
Glass ?M 



Book 



&Xdij- 



XVIL 

PAPERS 



EBLA.TINO TO 






THE FIRST SETTLEMENT AND CAPTURE OF 

/art dtentfgo. 



1727-175G. 



•Oi 



FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE ENGLISH IN WESTERN 
NEW-YORK. 

[Lond. Doc. XXII.] 

Gov. Burnet to the Board of Trade. 

New York, Oct. 16, 1721. 
That I might improve their (the Indians') present good humor 
to the best advantage I have employed the five hundred pounds 
granted this year by the Assembly chiefly to the erecting and 
encouraging a settlement a Tirahdaquet a Creek on the Lake 
Ontario about sixty miles on this side Niagara 1 whither there are 
now actually gone a company of ten persons with the approbation 
of our Indians and with the assurance of a sufficient number of 
themselves to live with them and be a guard to them against any 
surprize, and because the late President of the Council Peter 
Schuyler's son 2 first offered his service to go at the head of this 
expedition I readily accepted him and have made him several 
presents to Equip him and given him a handsome allowance for 
his own salary and a Commission of Captain over the rest that 
are or may be there with him and Agent to treat with the Indians 
from me for purchasing Land and other things which I the rather 
did that I might shew that I had no personal dislike to the family. 
This Company have undertaken to remain on this Settlement 
and that never above two shall be absent at once, and tho' these 
have the sole encouragement at present out of the public money 
yet there is nothing that hinders as many more to go and settle 
there or any where else on their own account as please. 

This place is indisputedly in the Indians possession and lies 
very convenient for all the far Indians to come on account of Trade 
from which the French at Niagara will not easily hinder them 
because first it must be soon known and is against the Treaty and 
besides they may easily slip by them in canoes and get to this 
1. Irondequoit bay, Monroe Co. 2. Major Abraham Schuyler. 



444 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

place before the French can catch them in the pursuit if they 
should attempt to hinder them. 

This, my Lords is the beginning of a great Trade that may be 
maintained with all the Indians upon the Lakes and the cheapness 
of all our goods except Powder above the French will by degrees 
draw all that Trade to us which can not better appear than by the 
French having found it wonh while to buy our Goods at Albany 
to sell again to the Indians. Wherefore to break that Practice 
more effectually I have placed a sufficient Guard of Soldiers on 
the Carrying Place to Canada and built a small Blockhouse there 1 
with the remainder of the five hundred pounds before mentioned. 

As to Niagara I did write to the Governor of Canada to com- 
plain of all the unwarrantable steps he has taken and among others 
of his erecting a Blockhouse at Niagara before the Treaty of Limits 
had settled who it belong to 

I received his answer at Albany in which he flatly denies most 
of the Facts I complain of. 

But as to Niagara he pretends possession for above fifty years 
first taken by M> de la Sale. 



EXTRACTS FROM FRENCH LETTERS. 

[Paris Doc. VII.] 

' Letter, dated 22 May 1725. M. the Marquis of Vaudreuil writes 
that he received advice the S th December that the English and the 
Dutch had projected an establishment at the mouth of the River 
Chouaguen on the borders of Lake Ontario and very near the post 
we have at Niagara. 

The news of this establishment on soil always considered as 
belonging to France appeared to him the more important as he 
felt the difficulty of preserving the post of Niagara where there 
is no fort, should the English once fortify Chouaguen; and that in 
losing Niagara the Colony is lost and at the same time all the trade 
with the upper Country Indians, who go the more willingly to the 
English since they obtain goods there much cheaper and get as 
1. Now Fort Edward, originally Fort Lydius, Washington Co. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 44o 

much brandy as they like, which we cannot absolutely dispense 
furnishing the upper country Indians, though with prudence, if it 
be desirable to prevent them carrying their furs and surrendering 
themselves to the English. 

M. de Longueuil wrote in the month of February that the Iro- 
quois of the Sault had appointed four of their chiefs and one of 
the Lake of the Two Mountains to go to Orange to represent to 
the Dutch that they would not suffer their settling at Chouaguen 
and that they would declare war against them if they established 
themselves there. 

He repaired on the ice to Montreal on the 12 March where he 
received the confirmation of the news of the English, and learned 
that they and the Dutch had started with a great many canoes for 
Lake Ontario to make a settlement at the mouth of the River 
Choueguen in concert with the Iroquois; that he was afraid he 
could not prevent it if they be supported by those Indians, to a 
war with whom, he knows, the King does not intend to expose 

himself. 

The Indians of the Sault returned from Orange dissatisfied with 
their reception. He immediately despatched M. de Longueuil to 
the Iroquois and thence to Choueguen. He commanded him to 
induce the savages not to suffer this Establishment, and in case 
he could not prevail on them to oppose it openly, to persuade them 
to remain neuter and to suggest to them at the same time, that it 
is their interest to maintain us at Niagara or to consent to our 
building a more solid and secure house than the one that is there. 

In regard to the English he ordered M. de Longueuil, should 
he find them settled at Choueguen, to summon them to withdraw 
from their lands until the boundaries were regulated, failing which 
he should adopt proper measures to constrain them. 

Letter dated 10 June 1725. M. de Longueuil writes to him 
(M. Begon) from Fort Frontenac the ninth of May that there 
was no Trading Post as yet at Choueguen. 

Letter dated, 31 October, 1725. Mess™ de Longueuil & Begon 
send particulars of said Sieur de Longueuil's voyage. He found 
] 00 English at the portage of the River, four leagues from Lake 
Ontario, with more than 60 canoes; that they made him exhibit his 



446 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

passport and shewed him an order from the Governor of New 
York not to allow any Frenchman to go by without a passport. 

M. de Longueuil took occasion to reproach the Iroquois Chiefs 
who were present that they were no longer masters, of their lands. 
This succeeded; they blew out against the English; told them 
they would bear with them no longer, having permitted them to 
come to trade. They even promised him they should remain 
neuter in case of war against the English. 

He next repaired to Onontague, an Iroquois Village and there 
found the Deputies of the other four Iroquois Villages who were 
waiting for him there. He made them consent to the construc- 
tion of 2 barks and the erection of a stone house at Niagara, of 
which he took the plan which they send with an estimate 
amounting to 29,295 livres (= $5,592.) 

Nota. The two barks were built in 1726. 

The House (Niagara) was commenced the same year and fin- 
ished in 1726. 

Nota. Sieur Chaussegross, engineer, writes that he erected this 
House on the same spot where an antient Fort had been built by 
order of M. d'Enonville former Governor and Lieutenant General 
of New France in 1686. 

25 Jicly, 1726. (M. de Longueuil writes that) he has given 
orders to Chevalier de Longueuil his son who commanded there 
(at Niagara) not to return until the English and Dutch retire from 
Choueguen where they have been all summer to the number of 
300 men, and should he meet their canoes on the lake, to plunder 
them. 

18 Sept 1726. M. the Marquis of Beauharnois sends an extract 
of a letter from Chevalier de Longueuil dated Niagara, the 5th of 
7ber 1726, in which he states that there are no more English at 
Choueguen, along the Lake nor in the River and if he meet any 
of them in the Lake he'll plunder them. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. * 47 



GOV. BURNET TO THE BOARD OF TRADE. 

[Loml. Doc. XXIII.] 

New York May 9th 1727. 

I have this Spring sent up workmen to build a stone house of 
strength at a place called Oswego, at the mouth of the Onncn- 
£ge River where our principal Trade with the far Nations , 
carried on. I have obtained the consent of the Six Natrons o 
build it, and having Intelligence that a party of French of ninety 
men were going up towards Niagara I suspected that they might 
have order^ to interupt this work, and therefore I have sent up a 
detachment of sixty Sonldiers with a Captain and two Lieutenants, 
to protect the building from any disturbance that any French or 
Indians may offer to it. There are besides about InWd 
traders now at the same place, who are all armed as Mihtra, and 
ready to join in defence of the Building and their Trade, m case 
they are attacked: The French can have no just pretence for 
doing it, but their lately building a Fort at Niagara, contrary to 
the last Treaty makes me think it necessary for us to he on our 
■mard against any attempts they may make. 

When the house is finished it will he sufficiently strong against 
an attackwith small arms, which is all that can be brought th.ther, 
and I intend to keep an Officer and twenty men always in Garrison 
there, which will be of the greatest use to keep our Indians true 
to us it being near the centre of all the Six Nations, & lying 
most conveniently to receive all the far Indians who come to trade 

"V Lord Bellomont formerly intended to build aFort by King 
William's order near this place, and it went so far that even 
plate and furniture for a chappie there, were sent over from 
England, but the Design was laid by upon his Death, and has 
never been resumed since 'till now. 1 

Tri „ v ,-,, 1CJ9S i 253 represents the erection of the above Fort 

1 Smith, Hast N. Y. Ed. ^'^;; P ^4 has becn copied by McAuley, 

as having been begun in 1722; an error wn en i Burnet's des- 

Dunlap and others who have followed him without inquiiy. ^.^^^ 

patch and the preceding Docs., correct the mistake and furn.sh the preexse 



448 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

The Assembly provided three hundred pounds last fall for this 
service, of which I then acquainted Your Lordships, but I have 
been obliged to lay out more than double that value upon my 
own credit, to furnish necessaries and provisions, and hire work- 
men, & make Battoes to carry up the men, for it is all Water 
carriage from our outmost Town called Schenectady to this place, 
which is about two hundred miles, except five miles, where they 
must draw their Battoes over Land, which is easily enough done, 
& this makes the communication much more convenient than by 
Land. 

I hope the Assembly will supply this Deficiency when they 
meet, but I was so convinced of the benefit of the undertaking 
that I was resolved not to let it fail for want of a present supply 
of money. I am with great Respect, 

My Lords, Your Lordships most dutifull and 

most obliged humble servant 

W. Burnet. 



GOV. BURNET TO THE BOARD OF TRADE. 

[Lond. Doc. XXIII.] 

New York 29th June 1727. 

Extract. — The Province is much obliged to your Lordships for 
representing the French building a Fort at Niagara, and in order 
to obtain Redress the same Fort which I have been building at 
the mouth of the Onnondage's River called Oswego this Spring, 
goes on successfully hitherto, and without any interruption from 
the French or their Indians, and with the full consent and appro- 
bation of our own Indians. 

The Detachment of Souldiers which I sent to up arrived safely 
there the beginning of this month, so that it is not likely that 
any attempt will now be made to hinder it, and I depend upon 
its being of the best use of any thing that has ever been under- 
taken on that side either to preserve our own Indians in our 
Interest, or to promote and fix a constant Trade with the remote 
Indians. 



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Translation of ' £ht 

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PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 449 



GOVERNOR OF CANADA TO THE GOV. OF NEW-YORK. 

[Par. Doc. VII.; Lond. Doc. XXIII.] 

July 20th, 1727. 

Sir — I am very well persuaded that you have been informed 
that the King my master has done me the honor to name me 
Governour and his Lieutenant General in all New France, and 
that you have likewise been so of my arrival to this country. 

I find myself, Sir, in a juncture when the close union that sub- 
sists between our Sovereigns ought to flatter me with the hopes 
of the like between you and me. But I cannot avoid observing 
to you my surprise at the permission which you have given to the 
English Merchants to carry on a trade at the River of Oswego, 
and that you have ordered a Redoubt with Galleries (Machicoulies) 
and full of Loop holes and other works belonging to fortification, 
to be built at the Mouth of that River, in which you have placed 
a Garrison of Regular Troops. 

I have been, Sir, the more astonished at it, since you should 
have considered your Undertaking as a thing capable of disturbing 
the Union of the two Crowns; You cannot be ignorant of the 
possession during a very considerable time, which the King my 
Master has of all the Lands of Canada, of which those of the lake 
Ontario and the adjacent Lands make a part, and in which he has 
built Forts and made other Settlements in different places as are 
those of Denonville at the Entrance of the River of Niagara, that 
of Frontenac, another called La Famine, that which is called the 
Fort des Sables, another at the Bay of the Cayougas at Oswego, 
&c. without any opposition, they having been one and all of them 
possessed by the French, who alone have had a right, and have 
had the possession of carrying on the Trade there. 

I look, Sir, upon the Settlements that you are beginning and 
pretending to make at the Entrance of the Lake Ontario into the 
River of Oswego, the fortifications that you have made there, and 
the Garrison that you have posted there, as a manifest infraction 
of the Treaty of Utrecht, it being expressly settled by that Treaty, 
29 



450 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

that the subjects of each Crown shall not molest nor encroach 
upon one another, 'till the Limits have been fixed by Commissaries, 
to be named for that purpose. 

This it is, Sir, which determines me at present to send away 
M. De la Chassaigne Governour of the Town of trois Rivieres, 
with an Officer, to deliver this letter to you, and to inform you of 
my Intentions. 

I send away at the same time a Major to summon the Officer 
who commands at Oswego, to retire with his Garrison and other 
persons who are there, to demolish the fortifications and other 
works, and to evacuate entirely that post and to retire home. 

The Court of France which I have the honour to inform of it 
this moment, will have Room to look upon this undertaking as an 
act of hostility on your part, and I dont doubt but you will give 
attention to the justice of my Demand. 

I desire you to honour me with a positive answer which I expect 
without delay by the return of these Gentlemen, I am persuaded 
that on your side you will do nothing that may trouble the harmony 
that prevails among our two Crowns, and that you will not act 
against their true Interests. 

I should be extremely pleased, Sir, if you would give me some 
occasion to show you particularly the sentiments of Respect with 
which I have the honour to be, Sir, 

Your most humble and 
most obed nt servant 
At Montreal Beauharnois. 

this 20' h July 1727. 

P. S. M. De la Chassaigne who did not at first intend to carry 
with him any but the Officer of whom I had the honor to inform 
you in my Letter, has since desired me to let him have the four 
Gentlemen named in the Passport which I have ordered to be 
made out for him. I dont doubt, Sir, but you will have the same 
Regard for them as for the King's Officer who goes along with them. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 451 



COPY OF THE SUMMONS 

TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE FORT BUILT BY THE ENGLISH ON THE 
SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO AT THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER CHOUE- 
GUEN TO WITHDRAW WITH THE GARRISON OF SAID FORT, SERVED 
BY M r BEGON MAJOR OF THE TOWN AND CASTLE OF QUEBEC ON 
BEHALF OF THE MARQUIS OF BEAUHARNOIS, GOVERNOR GENERAL 
IN CANADA. 

[Paris Doc. VII.] 

His Lordship the Marquis of Beauharnois appointed by His 
Most Christian Majesty Governour General in and over Canada 
and the whole Dependencies of New France, being informed of 
your Governour's enterprise at the Mouth of Choueguen River, 
where he ordered a Stone Redoubt to be built on the shore of. 
Lake Ontario where the French only have traded, and of which 
they have been possessors for a very great while, and considering 
that Enterprise as a plain Contravention to the Treaty of Utrecht, 
which mentions that the subjects of the two Crowns shall not 
intrench upon one anothers Land, 'till the Decision of the Limits by 
the Judges delegated to that End, has sent me with orders to sum- 
mon you to draw out at furthest within a fortnight the Garrison of 
this place with arms, munitions and other effects belonging to the 
people of Albany or other places, to cast down the block house 
and all peices of work you raised up contrary to all law, leaving 
you if you think fit to establish yourselves at Lake Thechiroguen, 
or the Oneida River where you formerly traded and to leave the 
mouth of this river free, as it has always been, to the French, 
failing which his Lordship the Marquis of Beauharnois will take 
measures against you and against your unjust usurpation as he 
will think fit. 

(Signed) Begon 

Montreal the 14 th of July 1727. 



452 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 



COPY OF THE PROCES VERBAL OF THE SERVICE OF 
SAID SUMMONS. 

[Paris Doc. VII.] 

Tins day the first of August 1727, we the undersigned, Knight 
of the Military Order of St. Louis, Major of the Town, Castle arid 
Government of Quebec, having in execution of the orders to us 
given by the Marquis of Beauharnois Governor and Lieutenant 
General for the King in all New France, arrived before the Fort 
built by the English on the borders of Lake Ontario, at the mouth 
of the River Choueguen, sent to advise Mr. Bancker Command- 
ing the Garrison of our arrival and had him informed, at the same 
time, that we came on the part of the Governor General Com- 
manding in Chief over all New France, to summon him to with- 
draw at latest within fifteen days the garrison of said fort, with 
the arms, ammunition and other effects belonging to individuals 
at Orange and other places, and to demolish said fort and other 
work he had there constructed. 

He sent to invite us on shore and came to. meet us on the bank of 
said river Choueguen, accompanied by two officers of the garrison, 
he conducted us into the fort with much courtesy and after service 
on the said Commandant in the usual manner of the said summons 
which we left him in writing in French and in English, he answered 
us that he was on his land and in his house; that he had been 
sent thither by his General Government to build the said fort 
there with the consent of the Six Nations and even under valid 
contracts with them ; that if we wished, he would cause the 
Chiefs of the Onondaga Indians then on the spot, to come who 
would inform us of it ; whom we refused to hear being unwilling 
to have any discussion with them. After which he added, that he 
was but a subordinate officer like ourselves, and consequently 
equally obliged to follow the orders of his General; that we h:, 1 
an order in writing from the Marquis of Beauharnois ; it would 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 453 

be necessary for him to have one also from Mr. Burnet, his Gene- 
ral, so as to be able to furnish his reply ; whereupon we asked to 
have his refusal in writing, but having communicated to us that a 
little time would be necessary to consider of it, and if we wished 
he would leave us at liberty to walk wherever we pleased ; and 
having kept us waiting about three quarters of an hour and con- 
sulted with his officers, he persisted in his original sentiments and 
said that he had as much right to summon the Commandant of 
Niagara ; finally he should send the summons to his Governor 
General, promising to give an answer so soon as he should receive 
orders. Done at Choueguen the 1 st August 1727. 

(Signed) Begon. ' 



GOV. BURNET TO THE GOVERNOR OF CANADA. 

[Lond. Doc. XXIW.] 

New York, 8th August, 1727. 

Sir — I have received the letter which you have done me the 
honour to write to me, and which was delivered to me by Mr. 
De la Chassaigne. You have done me a singular pleasure in 
taking this occasion to make me acquainted with a person of so 
distinguished merit, and in sending along with them Gentlemen 
who do honour to their country. I could have wished that these 
marks of your good will had not been attended with a proceeding 
so little suitable to them. 

Yc;, perceive, Sir, that I would complain of the sudden and 
peremptory summons that you have sent to my Officer posted at 
Oswego ; and which was brought to me by an express, before the 
arrival of M r De la Chassaigne. 

I should think, Sir, that you might have waited for my reasons 
in answer to what you were pleased to write to me, before you took 
so Extraordinary a step, and that in giving so short a time, that 
my Officer could not possibly receive my orders before it expired. 

I agree with you, sir, that the close union that prevails between 

1. In Lond. Doc. XXIIL are papers purporting to be Translations of the two 
preceding Doc's but they are essentially imperfect and incorrect. 



454 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

our Sovereigns ought naturally to produce the like between you 
and me, and it shall never be through my fault if it does not sub- 
sist in all its extent. It was, Sir, with the same Intention that 1 
made my complaint in the modeslest manner I could to Mr. De 
Longueuil, then Commander in Chief in Canada, of a Fort that 
had been built at Niagara and tho' I received no answer from him 
by the bearer of my letter and at last received one that was not 
at all satisfactory, I contented myself with writing to our Court 
about it, whence I am informed that our Ambassadors at the Court 
of France, has orders to represent this undertaking as contrary to 
the treaty of Utrecht. 

This, Sir, was all that I did upon that occasion. I did not send 
any summons to Niagaia, I did not make any warlike preparations 
to interrupt the work, and I did not stir up the Five Nations to 
make use of force to demolish it, which I might have done easily 
enough, since at the very time I received Mr de Longueuil's 
letter, they were all come to complain to me of this undertaking, 
as the justest cause of uneasiness that could have been given them. 
I won't tire you with repeating all that I writ to Mr. de Lon- 
gueuil upon that subject which he has no doubt shown to you. 

I come now, Sir, to the subject of your Letter, there are two 
things which you complain of, first of the trade at Oswego, 
secondly of the Redoubt as you call it, and of the Garrison that 
is in it; as for the Trade I cannot understand how you could be 
surprised at it, since we have carried on a trade there regularly 
for more than five years running without opposition, and I have 
reason to wonder how you can call that an Infraction of the 
Treaty of Utrecht, since it is expressly stipulated in that very 15 th 
Article which you cite, That on both sides the subjects of each 
Crown shall enjoy full liberty of going and coming on account of 
Trade. 

Going and coming must imply (as appears clearly by what goes 
before) among all the American subjects or allies or friends of 
Great Britain and of France. It is upon this, Sir, that we pre- 
tend to have an equal right with you of trading thro' all the Lakes 
and all the Continent, and that incontestably, by virtue of the 
Terms of the Treaty 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 455 

It follows therein that also the Natives of those Countries shall 
with the same liberty resort as they please to the British and 
French Colonies, for promoting a Trade on one side or the other, 
without any Molestation or hindrance either on the part of the 
British subjects or the French. 

1 cited to you before the Right which we have to carry on a 
Trade every where among the Indians. In these last words is 
contained the Right which all the Indians have to come and trade 
with us, and I leave it to you to reflect sincerely upon the conduct 
of the People of Canada, and to consider whether they have not 
done all they could and do not continue still to hinder the Indians 
from coming to trade with us. But as for our Right to carry a 
Trade every where among the Indians, one cannot find expressions 
more contrary to the terms of the Treaty than those in your letter, 
where you name several places occupied by the French, who alone, 
say you, have had the Right and been in possession of trading 
there. 

You will oblige extremely if you will shew me how to reconcile 
that with a full liberty on both sides of going and coming on 
account of trade which the subjects of both crowns shall enjoy. 
But if you say that formerly it was as you pretend, that will 
signify nothing, since at present the Treaty alone ought to regulate 
the matters. 

I hope, Sir, I have said enough upon the first subject of Com- 
plaint which relates to the Trade, for to shew you the right we 
have to it, and to make you sensible that the future Regulation of 
Limits, can never make any alteration in the general liberty which 
there is of Trade. 

I come now to the second subject of Complaint which relates to 
the Redoubt and Garrison at Oswego. It is true, Sir, that I have 
ordered a Stone house to be built there, with some contrivances to 
hinder its being Surprized, and that I have posted some Souldiers 
in it, but that which gave me the first thought of it, was the 
fortified and much larger house which the French have built at 
Niagara, upon the lands of the Five Nations, as it appears even 
by the Confession of M. de Longueuil, in his letter to me of the 
16 th of August 1726, for he pretends that the Five Nations had 



456 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

agreed to it by an unanimous consent. If that Post was not upon 
their Land, but upon Land that belongs incontestably to the French, 
I believe. Sir, that you would be very far from asking their con- 
sent to do what you had a mind to do there. 

It has been always the ^ame case with all the posts you mention 
and which besides had been abandoned many years before the 
Treaty of Utrecht, except Fort Frontenac only, which is on the 
other side of the Luke. It is certain that the French never built 
any of them but by the permission of the Five Nations, and 
always on pretence that they were only to be houses for the con- 
venient^ of Trade with them and without ever pretending to 
claim the Property of those places : And you seem, Sir, to allow 
almost as much yourself for you say, That His Most Christian 
Majesty had ordered Forts and other Establishments to be built in 
different places, &c. without any opposition. What has been 
built without onnosition can never be looked on as a conquest, as 
M . De la Chassaigne would maintain, and I should be very glad 
to learn by what Treaty or Agreement the five Nations ever 
yielded to you any of their lands, On the contrary those- Nations 
have always maintained that the Lands on loth sides of the Lake 
Ontario are theirs and will always maintain it. 

I can't comprehend what use the Article of the Treaty to which 
you allude, can be to you, and I can't find the words in the 
Treaty as you have cited them, nor even the sense entirely 
agreeable to them. You call the post which we have settled at 
Oswego a manifest infraction of the Treaty of Utrecht, it being 
mentioned expressly in the Treaty that the Subjects of one and 
the other Crown shall not molest nor incroach upon one another, 
'till the Limits shall be regulated by Commissaries to be named 
by them for that purpose. I dont know, Sir, what copy of the 
Treaty you make use of, but for my part, I have compared the 
French translation which I have quoted, with the Original Latin, 
which is printed at London by Royal Authority and have found 
it entirely agreeable to it. 

The words we are now upon are these as follows, The Subjects 
of France inhabiting Canada and others, shall hereafter give no 
hindrance or Molestation to the five Nations or Cantons of Indians, 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 457 

subiect to the Dominion of Great Britain, nor to the other Natives 
of America who are friends to the same, in like manner the sub- 
jects of Great Britain shall behave themselves peaceably towards 
the Americans, who are subjects or friends to France. 

This is the first part at full length of what you refer to ; the 
the second part is at the end of the Article in these words, But 
it [is] to be exaetly and distinctly settled by Commissaries, who 
are and who ought to be accounted the Subjects and friends of 
Britain or of France. 

Upon reading all this together it is impossible to imagine that 
the last clause of this Article can relate to the Five Nations, as 
if Commissaries were yet to determine whether they are our 
subjects or yours, as Mr. de Longueuil writ to me that they were 

neither. 

This would be directly opposite to the first part of the same 
Article which declares them expressly subject to the Dominion of 
Great Britain. But as there is mention made of other Americans 
Allies of Great Britain and of Americans Subjects or friends to 
France, without naming them, it is as clear as day light that the 
Commissaries are only to determine about these last. 

You have now, Sir, my reasons for acting as I have done, and 
of which I have given an account to the Court at the same time 
that I represented the affair of Niagara, I expect every day a 
compleat answer upon both these points, & I think myself obliged, 
not withstanding all the reasons which M . De la Chassaigne has 
given me to the contrary, to maintain the Post of Oswego, till I 
receive new orders from the King my Master. 

You may, Sir, make such complaints hereupon as you judge 
proper, as you have informed me that you have already made 
some, and at the same time you will not think it strange that on 
my part I inform the Court, in what manner you have summoned 
the Kings Officer posted at Oswego, without waiting for any 
Explanation from me upon it. This is a step which the King my 
Master may perhaps be offended at, and which His Most Christian 
Majesty may perhaps think fit to disown 

I am very sorry, Sir to find myself under a necessity to have 
sentiments so opposite to yours. I should be glad to see all these 



458 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

differences end ma good understanding, &that you would honour 
me with your friendship, and it is with a great deal of respect 
that I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most humble 

and most obedient Servant. 



GOV. BURNET TO THE BOARD OF TRADE. 

[Lond. Doc. XXIII.] 

New York 24th August 1727 
I had News that the Fort which I have been building this 
Spring at Oswego, at the mouth of the Onnondages River, was 
upon the point of being finished, when at the same time I learnt 
by an Express that the Governour of Canada had sent a summons 
to the said Fort to have it Demolished and abandoned in 15 
days, copies whereof in French &. English both as they were 
delivered to the commanding officer there, are herewith transmit- 
ted. Soon after my receiving this Summons arrived here the 
Governour of trois rivieres in Canada, who is next in rank to the 
Governour of Montreal, as he is to the Governour General of 
Canada. This Gentleman with his attendants was sent by the 
Governour of Canada to deliver a letter from him to me, and to 
persuade me to abandon this Fort for the present and to leave it 
to be afterwards settled between the two Crowns, who had the 
Right to that place. I agreed to leave it to be decided between 
the two Crowns as he proposed but in the mean time thought 
myself obliged to hold and maintain it. 

I have enclosed copies of the Governour of Canada's letter to 
me in French and my answer to him in the same language, 
together with my own translation of both letters, wherein Your 
Lordships will find the whole argument stated on both sides. 
There is no variation between the French & English but what 
was necessary to be made according to the different Translations 
of the Treaty from the Original Latin, but I think my argument 
holds equally in either translation and as strongly in the Latin as 
in either. 

Your Lordships know very well how backward the French 
have been to name Commissaries, and in the mean time if they 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 459 

are permitted they would seize upon every thing. But this new 
house at Oswego will make a stand that will embolden our Five 
nations, & will not easily be taken without great Cannon, the 
wall being four foot thick of large good stone, and it is repre- 
sented to me that the French cannot bring large cannon against 
it, since they have no way but to come up from Montreal to the 
Lake against a Violent stream, all full of Rifts & Falls & Shal- 
lows, where they are forced to set up with poles most part of the 
way in light Canoes, or Battoes, & if they had cannon to carry, 
it is thought they could not set them along, & by land it is all 
over precipices & mountains, and Rivers to cross on both sides of 
the great river, so that it is not believed practicable for them to 
bring battering Cannon any way. The French have a Fort on 
the Lake at Cutaraqui, where the biggest Guns they have are 
patereros, that one man can carry about in his arms. So that 
probably they could bring no bigger thither. 

I have had a report from some New England captives lately 
redeemed from Canada that the Governour of Canada was pre- 
paring 400 French & 800 Indians to attack this Fort. But there 
is reason to believe that this is more given out to intimidate us 
than really intended, and when I charged the Governour of trois 
Rivieres with it he utterly denyed it, but I thought I had ground 
enough to hint at it by way of Reproach in my letter tho' with- 
out asserting it positively. However if they should come we are 
provided with a double Garrison at Oswego, provisions for six 
months and powder and Ball sufficient for their Defence, and I 
have sent proper persons among our five nations with presents to 
them to engage them to stand by us, and not to suffer any Indians 
to molest us upon their Lands, as we shall be ready to defend 
ourselves against the French, so that I am in good hopes to be 
able to hold this place, in case we are attacked, and I hope Your 
Lordships will support me in taking these measures for securing 
our right to the five nations against the Encroachments and 
Pretensions of the French, and represent the whole affair to His 
Majesty, both of the French building at Niagara, contrary to the 
treaty of Utrecht, and of their disturbing our undoubted right of 
Trading and building upon the land of the five Nations at Oswego. 



460 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 



EXTRACT FROM THE PARTICULARS 

OF THE VOYAGE OF M. DE LA CHAUVIGNERIE, OFFICER, INTERPRETER 
OF THE FIVE IROQUOIS NATIONS, SENT BY ORDER OF THE GENERAL 
WITH A MESSAGE TO THE NONTAGUES (oNONDAGAs). 1728. 
[Paris Doc. VIII.] 

Throe Ungues from Choueguen I sent three Wampum belts to 
notify the Nontagu6 Chiefs to meet me on business which brought 
me among them ; and with three other belts I invited the four 
other Iroquois Nations their allies to repair to the Nontagu6s to 
hoar the message of their Father of which I was the bearer to 
thorn. 

On the arrival of the Nontagufe at my tent, they told me on 
the part of the Commandant of Choueguen, that as I was passing 
his place on public business, I must fire the first salute and lower 
my Hag. This proposition surprised me ; my people would per- 
suade me to do so. I therefore suddenly stood up and said to 
them — Ye know such is not the intention of your Father Onontio 
whose messagje I carry. A young fool in the canoe of those of 
the Lakf said to me aloud, that he would fire and salute the fort. 
I replied to him, Indian fashion, that he lied and that I should not 
suffer it, being unwilling either to witness or be accomplice to 
such a foil \ ; that I was surprized he had so soon forgotten the 
words of his father Onontio whose intentions I had communicated 
to him during our voyage; that I had no manner of business with 
him who was Commandant of the house at Choueguen. 

They returned to said fort and reported to me that the Com- 
mandant insisted on what they had first communicated to me. I 
asked them whose was the land over which I wished to pass ? 
This question caused them to droop their heads and they remained 
in pensive silence. It was not until I told them that I wanted a 
decisive and substantial answer, that they replied — The ground 
over which I wis! ed to walk was theirs. I then said to them, 
since it. was their property I, as child of their father Onontio and 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 461 

bearer of his message to them, wished a clear road and that all the 
branches overhanging the river, be cut away so that my Flag might 
pass without being obliged to remove it from where their Father 
Onontio had placed it ; and that I should not fire a salute until 
others had saluted me. Willingly or unwillingly they approved 
and we proceeded. 

When I arrived opposite the house of Chouguen we found, at 
the Mouth of the river a canoe wilh people of the Sault who were 
returning from war. This obliged us to land to give our folks an 
opportunity to learn the news and to cause the Prisoners to dance, 
as is the custom among the tribes. During this interval the Com 
mandant of Choueguen sent for six of the principal Chiefs inclu- 
ding me. My Chiefs invited me to follow them. I answered 
that I had no business at that house ; they were masters to go since 
they wished it; I should keep my tent with the young men. 
Tegarioguen wished to remain with me ; I persuaded him to 
accompany the others, so that I may learn from him what transpir- 
ed. He is, moreover, a man on whom I have great reliance. 
They, therefore, set out for the fort. In the interval of their 
visit three cannon were fired the meaning of which I did not un- 
derstand. On their return I learned that it was to honor the Toasts. 
They began by — The King of England ; The Commandant of the 
Fort, and The General of the French of Canada. These are the 
terms they made use of. Here is what was said to them by the 
Commandant of the Fort. 

Brothers, I never failed to assist the people of your Nation 
and you in particular when you pass by my house and come to 
see me. I will always act so towards you. I invite you to peace 
and tranquillity between you and us. 

He gave them three pots of Rum, a large piece of Pork and a 
bushel of peas which they brought to the Camp. I found them in 
a state of great Drunkenness, except Tegarioguen. He assured 
that the Choueguen Sachem had been charmed to see them and 
that he gave them milk to drink to their Brother's health. But 
the excitement they were in led them, notwithstanding all the 
entreaties I could make, to finish what liquor they brought. This 
delayed me three days before the Fort, they being drunk so that 



462 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

I was unable to do any thing. I was not free from uneasiness 
having only Tegarioguen for support, if I were insulted. 

When the Chiefs of the Lake of the Two Mountains and of 
Sault St. Louis returned to my tent, the Nontague" Chiefs came 
to summon me, on the part of the Commandant of the Fort, 
to strike my flag which I had hoisted over my Tent, inas- 
much as I was under the guns of the Fort. I always answered 
Indian fashion ; I knew no flag but that of their Father Onontio 
which I carried, and it should not be lowered until I was tied. 
Contrary to the custom of lowering it at sundown, it remained 
flying night and day the whole of the time I was constrained to 
remain at that post. 

On the day of our departure it was again the same tune. I 
must absolutely fire first and strike my flag. This I would not 
do ; therefore no salute on the one side nor the other, and we set 
out to proceed. A Nontague" Chief carrying a British flag in his 
hand, called out to me to embark. I forbid my people to do so, 
telling them I would not march under an English flag, and they 
heard me. I told them we should start when the English flag 
was no longer to be seen, which we did. I reproached the Non- 
tagutis with their weakness and the little respect they paid their 
Father and his Flag <=ince they dared not pass Choueguen without 
a British flag. They answered — You're right, Father ; but you 
know we have every thing to manage here. I replied — Under 
their Father's flag, there was nothing to be feared. And forth- 
with they furled the British flag which has not made its appear- 
ance since. 



GOV. CLARKE TO THE COMMANDER AT OSWEGO. 

[Lond. Doc. XXV.] 

New York Nov'r 1st 1736. 
Sir — I am truly sorry to hear so many complaints of your con- 
duct at Oswego. I hope for better things, but am now in fear, if 
some better care be not taken, that the Garrison will all desert or 
perish for want of provision of which I am told there is no manner 
of Oconemy j it behooves you, Sir, to be very circumspect, and I 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 463 

earnestly recommend to you, to keep good dissipline, and to tako 
care of the provissions and of the security of the house and 
garrison. 

M Beauharnois complained to me of your Commanding a French 
Canoe a shore, which was passing by ? I assured him I wo'd 
enquire into it, and I hope you will be able to acquit yourself of 
what he lays to your charge. 

I desire you will be very vigilant and guard carefully against 
all surprizes of the Indians or others, Capt: Dick will convey this 
to you to whom you ought to give an account of your Garrison 
by all opportunity's as he is the Commanding Officer on the Fron- 
tiers. S r &c 

Capt. Congrevc. G. C 



[Journ. of General Ass.] 

Die Sabatii May 23. 1741 
Resolved, That there be allowed a sum not exceeding the sum 
of Six Hundred Pounds, to and for erecting a sufficient stone 
Wall, at a proper Distance, round the Trading House at Oswego, 
either in a Triangular or Quadrangular Form, as the Ground will 
best adroit of, with a Bastion or Block House in each Corner, to 
flank the Curtains, which are to be single for the Accommodation 
of Men, if need be. 



MR. CLARKE TO THE BOARD. 



[Loml. Doc. XXVI.] 



New York Aug: the 20;h 1742. 
My Lords — If the loss of Oswego (which I much fear will fall 
into the hands of the French on the first rupture) does not stagger 
the best resolutions of the Six Nations, who at present fear more 
than they love the French; that Fortress, or rather Trading house, 
for it is no better, is in a very defenceless condition, the Garrison 
consists but of a Lieutenant, Serjeant, Corporal and 20 men it is and 
has been without Ammunition, the Assembly refusing to be at the ex- 
pense, as well as to make provision for victualling a larger Garrison; 
it is true they have given money to build a wall round the house, 



464 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

out the Director of the works, instead of laying the stones in lime 
and sand, as by the Act he was to do, is laying them in clay; 1 it 
is, as it is managed a jobb calculated rather to put money in the 
Pockets of those who have the management of the business, than 
for any real service to the publick ; tho' it is a thing of the utmost 
importance, as the loss of it will certainly be followed by the loss 
of the furr trade, and very probably may by a defection of the 
Six Nations, the consequence whereof your Lordi'P 8 know per- 
fectly well. 



GOV. CLARKES REPORT 

ON THE STATE OF THE BRITISH PROVINCES WITH RESPECT TO THE 
FRENCH WHO SURROUND THEM. 1743. 

[Lond. Doc. XXVII.] 

Tho' it has been my duty to consult in a more particular man- 
ner the welfare c£ the Province; which I have had the honour to 
Govern some years, yet I never took myself to be thereby dis- 
charged from carrying my thoughts to things of a more extensive 
nature, especially to such whereon the peace & happiness of the 
Plantations, and the Trade of England, if not the very being of 
His Majesty's Dominion on this Continent depend, I have often 
reflected on the progress that our natural Enemies the French 
have made in their settlements on the back of us, Chiefly since 
the peace of Utrecht, the vast increase of their Indian Trade, the 
interruption of ours by the power which their communication 
between Canada and Messasippi, (by means of the Lake Cadara- 
que or Ontario) gives them over all the Indian Nations, living on 
that, and all the other Lakes, which disembogue into Cadaraqui, 
& from thence into the River St. Lawrence, & by what means that 
communication may be cut off, & those Indian Nations brought 
to an absolute dependence on His Majesties Provinces, who will 
thereby be possesst of a very great additional Trade, and (which 

1 " He pretended that there was not Limestone to be gotten and without giving 
himself much trouble to search went on his own way." — Lond. Doc. xxvii. 3. 
The wall above alluded to, cost when finished £,"630.11. 11| Cury.— Journal of N. 
Y. Assemb. 1744. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 465 

is principally to be considered) be for ever secured from the 
annoyance of the French, and may without danger or interrup- 
tions, extend their settlements as far back as they please. 

The French had lately three, and have now two sailing vessel Is, 
each of about 50 or 60 Tons, on the Lake Cadaraqui : On the 
North East end whereof, near the entrance into the River of St. 
Lawrence, they have a small stone Fort called Frontenac, with a 
Garrison of about thirty or thirty five men, and on the Southwest 
End, near the fall of Niagra, another with the like garrison, a 
trading house under the cover of it, and are now building there 
one or two more trading houses. In those vessel Is they carry the 
Soldiers Ariillery, Ammunition and Provision to the Forts, and 
transport to & fro the goods they sell to & buy from the Indians: 
It is through this Lake they pass from Canada to Messasippi, & 
from thence back again to Canada : By means only of their Mas- 
tery on that Lake it is that, they have acquired, and still hold 
their power over all the Indian Nations, from Canada to Messa- 
sippi, except only the Indians who are next adjoining to our Pro- 
vinces, and have all along been dependent on them, (of which the 
Five Nations or Cantons are the most considerable) and in all 
those they have of late gotten too great an influence, especially 
among the five Nations whose youth, being of a martial spirit, 
they intice (contrary to thePublick Engagemeuts of those Nations) 
to join them in their Expeditions against the Indian Nations, 
subject to His Majesty, and depending on the Governments of 
Virginia, the two Carolina's & Georgia, who have it in their power 
(by their situation, if their strength were equal, as it would be, 
were they united and resolved) to interrupt the march of the 
French from Niagra to Messasippi : this the French know full 
well, and fearing that they may sometime or other confederate 
against them for that purpose, they seldom fail once a year, to 
attack one of those Nations while they are disjoined, thereby to 
exterpate, or bring them over to their Interest, and they have 
gone but too great a length towards it, none of those Nations 
daring now to give them any interruption & thinking themselves 
happy when they are not annoyed by the French. We have a 
trading House and a Garrison of 20 men in it at Oswego, almost 
30 



466 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

opposite to Fort Frontenac^ which in our present situation will 
inevitably fall into the hands of the French, on the first opening 
of a War, & with it the Five Nations, the only Barrier against 
the French to all the Provinces from this to Georgia, for tho' 
they now intice some of their youth to join them in their hostile 
marches, yet the Body of those Nations oppose it all they can, 
& live in a good intelligence with us, professing to observe invio- 
lably their original Allyance, (or Covenant Chain as they phrase 
it) which has subsisted ever since we first settled this Country 
yet if Oswego be taken, (as nothing can hinder it while the French 
are masters of the Lake) the Five Nations will, & must of course, 
submit to our Enemy, who will oblige them to assist in all their 
expeditions : In which Event every one of our Provinces may be 
so attacked, that the Planters will be obliged for the security of 
their Persons to quit their settlements, retire into the Towns, 
wherever they are, or under the cover of Forts, of which we have 
very few on the whole Continent, or, what is worse, leave the 
Country to seek a living elsewhere, the consequences whereof to 
England are but too obvious, & this the Enemy will more easily 
do, as they have a line of Forts from Canada to Messasippi. 

As a remedy for these Evils, which are almost as great as can 
befall the Nation, I propose that a Regiment of eight hundred 
men be sent from England (or if half the number of private men 
be sent, the other half I believe may be raised here) with an 
Engineer, Artillery, and Ammunition, & posted in the Sineca's 
Country on the Lake Cadaraqui, at a proper Harbour for build- 
ino- of Vessells there being more than one of sufficient depth of 
Water, That the Harbour be fortifyed and Barracks erected for 
the men. That there be then built two or three Vessels of superior 
force to those of the French, on board whereof a few sailors, & 
a sufficient number of soldiers being put with proper Officers, we 
may take, sink or otherwise destroy the French Vessells, and 
then easily take their Forts on the Lake, & for ever hinder them 
from building more on those shores, or any Vessells on the Lake, 
nor (if they should build any in the River St. Lawrence) can they 
carry them against that rapid stream into the Lake. The conse- 
quences whereof will be of the greatest moment. All our Colonics 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 467 

from this to Georgia, will be secure from the incursions of the 
French in time of War. The Indians depending on the Govern- 
ments of Virginia, Carolina and Georgia, who are now almost 
every year attacked by the French, and their Indians will live 
unmolested ; All the Indian Nations living on or near the Lakes, 
and all those over whom the French at present have a very great 
power, will no sooner hear of our conquests, than they will 
submit to, & trade alltogether with us, The Five Nations will no 
longer be divided by French Intrigues, but will be absolutely at 
our Devotion, and the Trade & Influence of our Enemy will be 
confined to the Cold Country of Canada, w T hich will scarce be 
worth keeping, and to the Banks of the River Messasippi, Nay, 
no sooner will the Five Nations see us masters on the Lake, than 
they will assist us to take the two Forts of Frontenac, & Niagra, 
for they are now complaisant to the French only through Fear, 
knowing them to be a treacherous & enterprising people. It was 
I presume to think, a very great Oversight, to suffer the French 
to build those two Forts, & I am persuaded if it had been strongly 
& rightly represented by the Governors of this & the other Pro- 
vinces a stop would have been put to it. Those Forts being built 
on the Lands of the Five Nations (whose native and conquered 
countries encompass the Lake on the shore whereon they are 
built) wdio by the 15 th Article of the Treaty of Utrecht are 
explicitly acknowledged to be subject to the dominion of Great 
Britain, I am sensible that by the same article it is stipulated that 
both the English & French, shall have a free Intercourse for 
Trade with all the Indians & the Indians with them, let them 
enjoy it (when we are Masters of the Lake) in the like manner 
that ours is now carried on, viz* By Canoes and small rowing 
Boats, but I am pretty sure that w r hen the French yoke is taken 
off their necks, the Indians will no longer trade with them, for 
the English Manufactures are much better, and they prefer them 
to French goods, but supposing that they should still trade with 
them, it will be in a much smaller proportion than they now do, 
& besides they cannot then march in any numbers to disturb our 
Provinces, or the Indians, now & of old depending on them. An 
Event of the highest importance, nor can Canada supply Messa 



468 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

sippi, or Messasippi Canada, with forces or merchandize in time 
of need : Before the French begun to build the Fort at Niagra, 
which is about 20 years ago, they cajoled some few of the young 
fellows of the Five Nations, to give them permission to build a 
trading; House there, but so soon as it reached the ears of the Sa- 
chims or Rulers of those Nations, they resented it, acquainted the 
Governor of this Province, that the French had begun to build, 
& offered to join any force he should send to demolish the works, 
and to drive the French from thence, but this was unhappily ne- 
glected : incouraged by their success there, the) did, about twel i i 
years ago, erect another Fort, and much stronger (on the Lands 
likewise of the Five Nations) at a place called the Crown Point, 
about 160 miles from Albany between that & Canada. In that 
part of the Country, where the Senecas chiefly dwell, & where I 
propose our Vessells should be built, & the Regiment quartered, 
the Climate is temperate, & the lands exceeding Fertile, so that 
in three years time from their going thither, provisions of all kinds 
(sufficient for the Regiment & Vessells) may be raised, Except 
only Beef, which will require a year or two more, in the mean 
lime cattle maybe drove thither from the County of Albany, with 
as much ease as they are now to the Garrison at Oswego, & no 
sooner will the Regiment march towards it, than Farmers will go 
thither under their cover to settle in that Country, being sure both 
of protection, & of a market for what they raise, The Five Na- 
tions being acknowledged by the Treaty of Utrecht to be subject 
to the Dominion of Great Britain, & the Lake lying in their 
Country, it being surrounded by their Lands, I humbly submit 
it, whether w r e have not a Flight, even before a Rupture to assume 
the Dominion thereof, & to destroy the Forts the French have 
built in the Country of those Cantons, especially if W'e have their 
concurrence, of which & of their assistance too, I make no doubt, 
when they see the Regiment among them. 

When we have thus vindicated our Right & established our 
Dominion on the Lake, the Regiment may then be employed in 
the reduction of the Fort at the Crow r n Point, wherein, if there 
be need, we may I believe have assistance from the Provinces of 
Massachusetts Bay and New Hampshire, who have settlen ents 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 469 

not far from thence, and who claim the lands adjoining to it & 
one of them even that whereon the Fort is built. 

If this or something else (of which I own I can think of nothing 
so effectual) be not soon done to put a stop to the French En- 
croachments farewell to the English Colonies and to that most 
valuable Trade of the Nation. 

If ever it be thought adviseable to attempt again to take Canada, 
the dispossessing the French of their maslery on the Lake & of 
the Fort at the Crown point, will greatly facilitate the Enterprize, 
but before we begin that work, I presume to think we ought to 
take Cape Breton, a Place well fortifyed, & from whence the 
French can annoy our Fishery at Newfoundland, & guard their 
own navigation to & from Canada. That place is such a Thorn 
in the sides of the New England people, that its very probable a 
large body of men may be raised there to assist in any such de- 
sign, and if proper officers are sent from England in the summer 
to exercise them, they may by the ensuing spring be well disci- 
plined, as all their youth are expert in the use of fire arms, from 
the unrestrained liberty of Fowling, which obtains in all the 
Provinces, & I conceive the Spring is the most proper season to 
attack the place, before the Men of War & Fishing Vessells 
come from France, for in the Winter they have few men except 
the Garrisons, & Boston being a proper Fort for our Fleet to 
harbour in the Winter, we may block up the Haibour of Breton 
before the Ships from France can come upon the coast. 
New York 1743. 



GOV. CLINTON TO THE N. Y. ASSEMBLY. 

[Journals of Gen. Assembly.] 

Die Lunae, Aug. 20, 1744. 
Gentlemen^ From the Examination herewith laid before You, 
it must be inferred, that the Province has suffered Considerable 
Damage this summer, by the precipitate Retreat of our Indian 
Traders from Oswego, upon Notice of the French War; most of 
them you will find, left the Place immediately upon the Alarm, 



470 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

sold what they could of their Goods, to those few of their 
Brethren, that had Sense, Courage and Resolution, to stay behind, 
and brought the Remainder back with them. You will judge 
what a Baulk and Discouragement, this Instance of Pusilanimity 
has occasioned to those Number of Indians, of the far Nations, 
who have rarely come to Trade with us; but perhaps finding the 
French, had no Goods to supply them at Niagara, resolved to 
proceed to Oswego, where some of them found the place was 
basely deserted by most of ihe People, and no Goods to exchange 
for their Furs; upon Information whereof, many other Indian 
Canoes were turned back before they reached that Place. 

How mean an Opinion, must the Savages entertain of us, when 
they find our People so easily frightened, as it were with a 
Shadow, and that the great Gains, which are constantly reaped 
by this Advantageous Traffick, are not sufficient to excite a Reso- 
lution in our Traders, to stand to the Defence of this Fortress, 
the Loss of which, would determine that Trade, and it is to be 
feared the Indians too, in favour of our natural Enemies the 
French; how fatal such an Event would prove to this Colony in 
particular, and the British Interest upon the Continent in general, 
may be easily foreseen. 

The pernicious Consequences which must inevitably flow from 
this sort of Demeanour, I persuade myself, you will think deserv- 
ing of your serious Attention, and that you will put this most 
profitable Branch of our Trade, into such a Method for the 
Future, as may encourage and invite the most distant Nations to 
come yearly to trade at that Mart ; when by the Wisdom and 
Justice of the Legislature, Matters are so regulated for the future, 
that the Indians may be assured, that not only their Occasions, 
will always he plentifully supplied there with Gooils, the best of 
their kind, hut also at the most reasonable Rates; touching which 
last Article the Six Nations have made frequent complaints ; by 
these Measures, we shall establish such a Credit amongst our 
own, ami the remotest Indians, that it will not be in the power 
of the French to rival us in that Point. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 471 

[Paris Doc. X.] 

April 4, 1748. Nanangousy, Chief of the Iroquois at the 
Sault has returned from Choueguen where he has been to spy. 
He reports that outside Fort Choueguen there is but one Trader's 
house ; that there was a great number of Dutch and Palatine 
traders at the place called Theyaoguin who were preparing to 
come and make a considerable trade at Choueguen, and that there 
was nothing at that fort to betoken any expedition on the part of 
the English among the 5 Nations. 



[Council Minutes XXV.] 



Fort George, New York, 23. April 1755. 
The Governor acquainted the Board that among the other 
measures conceited at Alexandria, the Fort at Oswego, as a Post 
of great Importance, is to be strengthened by a detachment of 
all the effective Men belonging to the two independent Companies 
at Albany, and two Companies from S r William Pepperel's Regim* 
who are to throw up Intrenchments and make Such additional 
Works as may be thought wanting for its Security. That he 
signified to the General [Braddock] that the Province would not 
he apprehended, supply Provisions for so many Men, unless the 
Expense might be taken out of the Fund of X5000 granted for 
Transportation and Refreshment of the Kings Troops, and for other 
extraordinary Services Necessary for the Use and Security of the 
Colony, in the present Juncture ; and that if he was willing it 
Should be taken out of that Fund, he would advise with the 
Council upon it, on his Return. To which General Braddock 
had agreed. And thereupon the Governor desired the opinion of 
the Board. 

The Board were of Opinion His Honour might draw out of that 
Fund for Six Months Provisions for those Troops and for One 
hundred Battoes and a sufficient Number of Steersmen, to be 
employed in transporting them and their Provisions &' Stores. 
And also for Pickaxes, Spades, Shovells and other necessaries for 
making Intrenchments, if such proper Implements could not be 
supplied out of the King's Stores here. 



472 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

M. DE VAUDREUIL TO THE MINISTER. 

[Paris Doc. XI.] 

Quebec, 10 July, 175f». 

My lord, — I had the honour to inform you by my letter of the 
2d inst. that the English were deploying a laige force towards 
Chouaguen ; that they had built some 10 gun brigs there and two 
descriptions of galleys; 1 that a body of 3000 men were also 
assembling at Fort Necessity about -10 leagues from Fort Duquesne 
and that its vanguard of 700 men had already ariived there. 

We had confirmation of this news from reliable Indians of 
different villages and they gave us assurances sufficiently con- 
vincing not to allow us to doubt it. They even added, as a matter 
of certainty that 4000 men were going to Choueguen ; that the 
five nations were spread on the wings of this army ; that the 
English would seize Niagara and Fort Frontenac, and moreover 
that they had constructed 600 balteauxat Orange ; that they were 
still busy at a great many others ; that there were, likewise, 5000 
men encamped outside Orange covering two leagues of Country ; 
that this army was to march against Fort St. Frederic [Crown 
Point] and finally advance on our settlements on this Continent. 
1 am, My lord, about to send some reinforcements to this last fort, 
but this diversion will not cause me to change my design on Lake 
Ontario which I had the honour to communicate to you. The 
preservation of Niagara is what interests us the most ; if our 
enemies became masters of it and keep Chouaguen, the Upper 
Countries would be lost to us, and besides, we should have no 
more communication with the river Oyo. 



THE SAME TO THE SAME. 



Montreal 24 July 1755 

However great the evil [the backward state of Canada and the 
low state of its finances] I must remedy it and in carrying out my 
views and my zeal in this regard, I must not lose sight of my 

1 The first English vessel on Lalce Ontario was a little schooner -10 feet Iceel 
with 14 sweeps or oars ami 12 swivels. She was launched on 28th June, 1755. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 473 

design against Chouaguen, since on the success of this depends 
the tranquillity of the Colony. 

The expedition against Chouaguen which had at all times been 
easy, is to-day unfortunately very difficult and that, I cannot help 
repeating, because the English experienced no opposition in their 
undertaking and preparations. The quiet state of the Colony 
had, even, rendered them so haughty that having arrived at the 
decree of perfection they aspired to, they boldly raised the mask, 
and were daring enough, in the beginning of June, to send three 
balls through the King's Flag flying from a batteau of an Officer 
who was conducting a detachment to the Belle Rivire. 

They have actually two and perhaps three flat bottomed gun brigs 
with sweeps, which cruise from day to day, on Lake Ontario. 
They are about to launch others for similar purposes. I have 
advices of the 20 th of this month stating that those two barks 
have been with several Batteaux as far as beyond Quinte where 
the English landed and that it is certain they will go to Niagara. 

Chouaguen is no longer a Trading house ; it is regularly forti- 
fied and suitably furnished with pieces of artillery. There is a 
second Fort equally provided with cannon. The Woods that 
surrounded Chouaguen and militated against its defence, no longer 
exist. They have rendered its approaches difficult. 1 

They are in strength there and become stronger every moment 
by the troops that arrive from Orange. Yet, My lord, I act with 
confidence, and dare flatter myself to have Chouaguen razed. 

The army will be composed of about 4300 men, 2000 of whom 
will be regular troops, 1800 Canadians and 500 domiciliated In- 
dians. I perceive with joy that the one and the other greatly exert 

1 « When it was determined that the Army at Osv:ego should go into winter 
quarters, they began a new fort upon a hill on the east side of the river about 470 
yards from the old one; it is 800 feet in circumference, and will command the 
harbour; it is built of logs from 20 to 20 inches thick; the wall is 14 feet high and 
is encompassed by a ditch 14 feet broad and ten deep; it is to contain barracks for 
300 men, and to mount 16 guns. On the other side of the river, west from the old 
fort, another new fort is erecting; this is 170 feet square, the rampart is of Earth 
and Stone, 20 feet thick and 12 feet high, besides the parapet; this is also encom- 
passed with a ditch 14 feet broad and ten feet deep, and is to contain barracks for 
200 men. An hospital of framed work, 150 feet by 30, is already built, which may 
serve as a barrack for 200 men; and another barrack is preparing of 150 feet by 
24."— Account of American affairs in 1755, in Gentleman's Magazine, xxvi. (i. 



474 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

themselves to accomplish my wishes. This army will be furnished 
with portable cannon and munitions of war and implements gene- 
rally requisite for a siege. Since the 12 th instant the troops file 
off by brigades for Fort Frontenac. I expect the remainder of the 
army will have left Montreal by the 10 th of next month; and that 
all my forces will be collected at Fort Frontenac by the 25 th of 
the same month, unless the weather be unfavorable. 

I should have been highly gratified, My Lord, to march at the 
head of the army, persuaded of the effect my zeal for the Kings 
service and my country would have produced on the Canadian 
soldiers and more particularly the Savages. But Fort St. Frederic 
[Crown Point] being equally menaced, my presence is necessary 
at Montreal. 

'Baron Dieskaw will command this army. I confer daily with 
him and see with pleasure that he ardently desires to accomplish 
my views. 

As for the five Nations I reckon not on their aid, but I do not 
despair of their neutrality. From the hour of its foundation, 
Chouaguen is the rendezvous of the different Indian tribes. It is 
from Chouaguen proceed all the Beltsand messages that the English 
scatter among the Far Nations. It was alway at Chouaguen that 
the English held Councils with the Indians and by means of 
presents, principally of intoxicating liquors, persuaded them 
to assassinate the French. In fine, Chouaguen is, consequently, 
the direct cause of all the troubles that have supervened in 
the Colony, and of the infinitude of expences these have entailed 
on the King. From the destruction of Chouaguen will follow: — 

On the one hand the complete attachment of all the upper 
country Indians; on the other, a considerable diminution in the 
expenditure incurred at present by the King for the Colony. 
Should the Five Nations take sides with the English, they would 
abandon them the moment Chouaguen was no more. The Indian 
tribes having no longer a resource with the English to obtain 
intoxicating liquors, I shall insensibly destroy the trade in Brandy 
at certain posts, so destructive to the prosperity of the service and 
of commerce. These same tribes acknowledging and from that 
moment unable to have any other communication except with the 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 475 

French, the prodigious quantity of Beaver and Peltry which went 
to the English will return to the trade of Fiance. 

I request you, My Lord, to be assured of my punctuality in 
obeying all that is prescribed by my instructions and that I shall 
do everything in my power to signalize my zeal for the King's 
service. 

With the most profound respect, I am, My Lord, 

Your very humble and very Obedient Servant 

Vaudreuil. 



THE SAME TO THE SAME. 

[Par. Doc. XII.] 



Montreal 2 Feb. 1756. 

Chcaaguen is now in a state of defence; it would be impossible 
to undertake besieging it unless with a strong army and consid- 
erable artillery. The English have three forts there, each of 
which has cannon and, bombs. The garrison consists of 600 men 
who are constantly on the alert. I know less of the situation of 
Chouguen through the reports of prisoners and deserters, than 
through a reconnoissance I caused to be made of it this winter by 
two small parties I sent thither. 

The first of these parties brought me two prisoners, the second 
commanded by M Mo de Louvigny, Ensign has completely 
fulfilled its mission. That officer remained several days in the 
neighborhood of Chouaguen and did, himself, examine everything. 
He could not burn the barks because they were under the cannon 
of the Fort and well guarded. He made two prisoners, and on 
his return rendered 60 @ 80 batteaux unfit for service. 



[From Council Minutes XXV.] 
At a Council held at Fort George in the City of New- 
York on Wednesday the 21 day of April 1756 
His Excellency (Gov. Hardy) communicated a Letter from Sir 
William Johnson of the 16 th Inst, advising that he had just rec d 
a letter from Colonel Bradstreet in which he writes " This moment 



476 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

arrived two Indians of the Onondaga's to give Notice that Oswego 
was surrounded four days since by a considerable Number of 
French and Indians from Cadaraqui and Niagara. That they had 
heard the Cannon of Oswego for half a day after they left their 
Castle, and that the General Rendezvous of the Enemy was about 
twelve Miles from Oswego. 

That upon the receipt of Col. Bradstreet's Letter he had deter- 
mined to set off with what Militia he could get together imme- 
diately, and to order the rest to follow him to the German Flats, 
and in his way to take the two Mohawk Castles with him. That 
he hath been informed of the Weak state of the Forts Edward 
and William Henry and that the Garrisons apprehended an attack, 
and had therefore ordered the Militia to March to the Relief of 
these Forts on Notice of the approach of an Enemy. 

His Excellency informed the Council that he had upon former 
Intelligence which he had received of the danger the Garrison of 
Oswego was exposed to, wrote to the Commanding Officers of the 
King's Troops at Albany and Schenectady, representing the great 
importance of that Post, and the bad consequences the loss of it 
must be attended with, and therefore that he hop'd they would 
march the Troops or such part of them as they should find neces- 
sary for the relief of that place. 

The Council declared His Excellency had taken all the measures 
In his power on this Occasion. 



[N. Y. Mercury May 31. 1756.] 

Oswego May 17. 1756. 
I arrived here three days ago, after a Tedious Time occasioned 
by the large Train I was with, consisting of 200 Whale Boats, 
and 200 Battoes, excepiing two Whale Boats, and two Battoes 
that were lost at the Falls, twelve Miles from hence, & four Men 
drowned in them. On my arrival I heard, that a few days before, 
a Party of Indians came on some ship Carpenters cutting Timber 
not 300 \ards from the Town ; & before a Party could be turned 
out, Killed and carried off Twelve: They were pursued by the 
Party, but they could not get sight of them : Our People found 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 477 

one Killed, which they Scalped, & threw his Body in the River, 
besides several Blankets shot thro', Knives, Muskets &c. by which 
'tis thought some more of the Enemy have been Killed. About 
eight o'Clock this Day we heard a firing up the River which we 
took to be an attack on one Lieut Blair, who went up this Morn- 
ing to the Reefs, with 24 Men, two miles off, for a Guard to the 
Bat toes at that Place ; upon which Numbers of People, with a 
few Mohawks run from the Town that Way. The Firing still con- 
tinued ; and soon after a man came in with an Indian Scalp, and 
brought Word, that Blair's Party was attacked by a Party of 
French & Indians, himself and one Soldier Killed : Upon which 
upwards of 500 Battoe Men were sent different Ways into the 
Woods. We soon further heard, that a brave Mohawk, who went 
out on the Alarm, with some Battoe Men, was Killed by a French 
Indian, after he (the French Indian) had received a Wound in 
the Thigh, the Mohawk attempting to take him alive, and by that 
Means he lost his Life ; but a Battoe man that stood next to him 
soon despatched the French Indian, and Scalped him ; another 
thVy found dead, which they Scalped also; two more they are 
certain are Killed, as they saw them drawn off. Lieut Blair, 
though a Young Gentleman not more than 18 or 19, behaved like 
a brave Soldier ; for being wounded the first Fire, he begged his 
Men to Tree all, and fight on, for he was a dead Man, and that 
they might soon expect assistance ; Soon after he received ano- 
ther Ball in his Throat, when he immediately fell. The Sergeant, 
with the Men, bravely maintained their Ground, till they were 
relieved by Numbers, on whose Approach, the Enemy soon made 
off, and the Woods being now green, our People stood no chance 
in following them. Another Soldier is mortally wounded, one 
slightly, and a Ship Carpenter, who went out without any Fire 
Arms some Time after the Attack, was shot in the Leg, the Bone 
not hurt. Our People have brought in several Blankets, Knives, 
Small Arms &c. by which we hope they have had a warm Recep- 
tion. They had not Time to Scalp our Dead. Lieut Blair, the 
Mohawk & Soldier were interred this afternoon, with all the 
Honors of War. 

We are busy getting the Vessels here ready for the Lake, and 



478 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

hope to be out in Eight Days. As yet, little is done to the new 
Ones, and will not, till we are reinforced, that we may have a 
Strong Guard to cover our Men in the Woods. At the Falls, (12 
Miles from hence) a good Stockaded Fort is building, to defend 
that Pass. Plenty of fresh Beef and Fish, the latter of which, 
in three Hawls of a Seine, filled a Battoe, so hope soon to have 
a very healthy Garrison. 

[From the same, 14 June 1756.] 
The Names of the Carpenters & Sawyers that were Killed & 
Missing at Oswego, about a Month since, are, Edmond Banton, 
John Mitchell, Henry Jackson &, Philip Philips of New York ; 
the three former Killed & Scalped, & the latter Missing ; John 
Jordan, Samuel Mash & Lewis Dunham of Brunswick, the two 
former Killed, the latter Missing; Michael Murray, Killed; 
James Grant, John English & Charles Carter, of Philadelphia, 
the two former Killed, & the latter Missing; James Flanagan 
missing, one Soldier Killed and another Shot in the Knee. 

[From the same, June 28, 1756.] 

By Sevtral Letters received from Albany we have the following 
Intelligence from Oswego viz 1 That on the 16 th Instant, about 4 
o'clock in the Morning, a Party of 3 or 400 French & Indians, 
attacked the Forts Oswego and Ontario and Killed &. Scalped five 
of the Battoe Guard, sent from Fort Ontario on that side of the 
River : That they took one Prisoner, mortally wounded another, 
and slightly wounded a third, but were repulsed, and not with- 
out considerable Loss, as the Cannon play'd upon them for an 
Hour and a Half; that they w*ent quite off about Eleven o'Clock: 
That two Whale Boats were sent to make Discoveries on the 
French Shore, the same Day, and after rowing about 11 miles, 
they saw a Smoak, and about 100 Yards farther, a man running 
from the Shore into the Woods ; that they immediately fired a 
Volley from the Boats, when the Smoak was put out, & about 
ten Minutes after, upwards of 1000 French and Indians appeared 
upon the Beech, and drew up in a Line three deep, reaching 
almost a Mile, and gave the Boats a Volley, some of their Shot 
droping within 5 yards of them : That they fired about five 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 479 

Minutes, when the Boat gave them another Fire, three Huzza's & 
row'd off, and returned to Oswego about 5 o'Clock : That the 
three Vessels were returned from a Cruize of about two weeks, 
but have made no Discoveries : And that another, and more for- 
midable Attack was hourly Expected. 

Albany June 27. 1756. *- 

Friday last Harkamers Son came down from Oswego, with 
Letters from Col. Merger, for General Shirley : He says, there 
had been a smart Skirmish at Fort Ontario ; that a Body of about 
a thousand French and Indians had attacked the Fort, but were 
beat off by Colonel Schuyler, and those that were in Garrison 
there, after an Engagement of two Hours ; that Col. Schuylei 
lost 26. Men and the Regulars, 6. 



EARLY NAVAL OPERATIONS ON LAKE OxNTARIO. 

[From the same.] 

His Majesty's Sloop Oswego; ) 
Oswego, July 2d, 175(i. \ 

I have been out with Commodore Bradley on two eruisrs. On 
the first we were out twelve days, endeavoring to get to Niagara, 
but the wind blowing constantly from the westward, were forced 
to return, having made no discovery but what related to a further 
knowledge of the Lake. Last Wednesday, seven nights, we sailed 
on a second cruise, and the Sunday following, at day dawn, as 
we were steering a course for Oswego, (having promised Col. 
Mercer to return off the harbor in four days,) we saw four sail of 
French vessels, from whom we were glad 10 make all the sail we 
could. As I make no doubt this affair will be variously repre- 
sented at New York, I shall give an impartial account of the 
same, which is as follows : At half past two, A. M., we saw 
two sail standing towards us from the N. W., on which we imme- 
diately made the signal for the Ontario to chase, and got all ready 
for action, wore ship, and stood for them. At three quarters past 
three, we saw two more sail from the same quarter. At this time, 
one of the two vessels, which proved to be the Commodore, fired 
two guns to leeward and hoisted a French flag at his foretop mast 



4S0 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

head, which we took for a signal for the two sterninost vessels to 
make sail and join, as he and the next to him directly hauled on 
the wind, and clewed up their main top sails. At 5 o'clock, being 
then about one and a half miles from them, we found they were 
all four schooners, and the two whose distance I have just men- 
tioned, very large vessels with several guns of a side. The other 
two appeared as large, but of what force we could not see, they 
being farther off. On which, Capt. Lafory came on board arid a 
council being called, it was thought most prudent to avoid an 
engagement, the enem) being far superior to us, and the utmost 
consequence our welfare was to Oswego. Our force consisted : 
first, the Oswego, Com. Bradley, with only 4 pounders, 1 three 
pounder, and 45 seamen and soldiers; the Ontario, Capt. Lafory, 
with 4 four pounders, 1 three pounder, and 45 seamen and sol- 
diers ; a small schooner not bigger than a four cord boat, under 
the command of Mr. Farmer, with G swivels, and 13 seamen and 
soldiers. At half past five, wore and made the best of our way 
to Oswego. On which the enemy gave chase, and had the French 
Commodore behaved at the time as he ought, he must have brought 
us to action very soon and taken us : but he was unwilling to 
attack without his little fleet close together, and in chasing fired 
single shot at us ; to do which, he was obliged to luff up in the 
wind, having no bow chase, by which means he lost every time, 
twice his length. At 7 o'clock, he being little better than half 
a mile off, first luffed up in the wind, then clapt his helm hard 
a-weather, wore round, and fired his broadside at Capt. Lafory, 
astern of us, and left off chase — none of which, or those before, 
did any execution. At our first making off, we found Mr. Farmer 
to drop astern very fast, on which the Commodore hailed the 
Ontario to tell him to bear up more large. The two sternmost 
schooners gave chase to him, and soon after saw him haul up to 
the- northward, for what reason we know not, and the two vessels 
in chase of him firing at him, which guns by the report they made 
were heavy. We soon after lost sight of him and the chase and 
at 11 o'clock heard firing again. At three P. M. we got into 
Oswego. 

The new brigantine and sloop are to be launched to morrow ; 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 481 

the Snow in ten or twelve days. But we are greatly disappointed 
in guns for them, for Col. Bradstreet arrived here yesterday with 
600 battoes, and with him came only sixteen carriage guns and 
sixteen swivels, whereas the Brigantine only should mount six- 
teen carriage guns. However, we shall get some small guns from 
the Fort the sloop, and directly go and look for Monsieur, who I 
arn afraid will not give us the opportunity of speaking with him, 
as they have been to Niagara and I suppose have carried provi- 
sions sufficient for the garrison. 

We are yet much troubled by scalping parties — large bodies 
lying within six or seven miles of us, and as our garrison is not 
sufficient to dislodge them, they do us much damage. We are 
obliged to have large parties to cover the carpenters j others 
to clear the woods around the garrison— that it would be impru- 
dent to attempt it till we are stronger. For these ten days past 
we have quitted the Fort on the hill, on the Oswego side, it not 
being tenable ; but as some troops (about 200) are come up with 
Col. Bradstreet, we expect it to be immediately put in a posture 
of defence. Provisions we abound in, but now the cry is Men ! 
So believe we shall rest on the defensive this summer and winter. 
What is the occasion, time may discover ; and may the enemies 
of our country meet their just deserts is my sincere wish. 



. M. DE VAUDREUIL TO THE MINISTER. 

[Paris Doc, XII.] 

Montreal, 5 July, 1756. 
My lord, — English vessels have appeared several times on Lake 
Ontario ; our's occupied with the freight to Niagara, could not 
chase them. Nevertheless, our tw r o barks returning from Niagara 
on the 26th of June perceived across the Bay of Quintte some 
coming towards them. We gave them chase, all our sails set, 
hut the enemy immediately sheered off. He was pursued so close 
that he was obliged to abandon his sloop, which was his third 
vessel. We left this to our tw T o barks ; our two Corsairs continued 
in pursuit of the enemy w T ho seeing himself gained on cut his 
31 



482 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

boat loose and threw a number of other things overboard, [n 
vain we fired our chasers after him he made no response, taken 
up altogether in pushing himself ahead, and the wind having 
fallen he gained on our Corsairs by means of the quantity of sail 
he carried. Having chased him into Chouaguen we tacked to 
overhaul the sloop our barks had missed. She struck at once. 
This prize is about 20 tons, armed with 6 patereros, 12 muskets, 
6 sailors and 8 soldiers. 

On the 25th June, as our two Corsairs were cruising between 
the Islands of Couis and the Galops, one of them being near the 
Bay of Niagara, 1 got intelligence of a schooner returning to 
Chouaguen. He gave chase and found himself in doubling a 
point quile close on Chouaguen. The Schooner had time to enter 
the River, were it not for which she would not have escaped tnis 
Corsair. 

This, My lord, is what the movements and exploits of our littU 
Navy of Lake Ontario is at present reduced to. 
I am with most profound respect, My lord, 

Your very humble and very ob l Servant, 

Vai DREUIL. 



ACTION BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH. 

[N. Y. Mercury, July 19.] 

Albany, 13 July. 1756. 

On Monday Colonel Bradstreet arrived here from Oswego. 
On the 3d, about 3 o'Clock in the Afternoon, nine Miles on this 
side that Place, having about 300 Battoemen with him, in their 
Baitoes, he was attacked from the North side of the River by 
about r (00 of the Enemy, of which 200 were Regulars, the Rest 
Canadians and Indians. Col Bradstreet, who at that time was 
near the Front of his Party, proceeded with six Men to a small 
Island near the Enemy, and ordered a few more to follow him 
there, to keep back the Enemy from fording the River, till the 
rest of his Men could land on the South side of it. He had no 

1 Incorrectly written for Aeaowv, or Hungry Bay, Jefferson Co., at the entrance 
of which are the Galop Islands. On the opposite or north side are the Islands of 
Couis, near the bay of Ken.i. They are to be seen in Sauthier's Map 1777, 1779. 



immediately marched with 250 men, to meet them. He found 
that the Enemy to the number of about 400 had possessed them- 
selves of a thick Pine Swamp, on which he attacked them in their 






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of which are the Galop Islands. On the oppo 
Couis, near the bay of Kenii. They are to be 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 



483 



sooner landed with the Six Men, but he was attacked by Twenty 
of the Enemy, whom his Party beat bark, kept Possession of 
the Island and were joined by six more Battoemen. They were 
then attacked by about 40 of the Enemy, who stood their Ground 
very well, and wounded eight out of the Twelve ; yet as our 
People never fired, without each killing his Man, the Enemy 
gave Way. The Party on the Island were then increased to 
about Twenty, besides the Wounded, and were again attacked by 
70 of the Enemy, whom our Folks also beat back a third time. 
This Affair on the Island lasted near an Hour, and had given the 
Rest of our Battoemen Time to land on the South side of the 
River and those on the Island perceiving the Enemy were coming 
to surround them with their whole strength, retired to the South 
side of the River, and were followed by the Enemy. Our Peopl* 
made a feint Flight until the Chief of the Enemy had forded 
the River, then faced about, and push'd the Enemy back into 
the River, where they killed great numbers of them ; the Rest 
took to their Heels ; and were so closely pursued, that they left 
all their Pucks, Blankets & Provisions behind, and many of 
them their Guns. About forty of our People are killed & missing 
& 24 slightly wounded. The number of the Enemy killed is not 
Exactly known, as most of them fell in the River, but it must be 
at least triple the Number of Ours Col. Bradstreet has brought 
two Prisoners with him. 

[From the same, July 26, 1756.] 
Since our last, many letters are come to Town from Albany, all 
confirming the Account we had of the Defeat of the French and 
Indians by the Battoemen under the Command of Col. Bradstreet 
and all doing Honour to the active,brave and circumspect Behaviour 
of that Gentleman, during the whole affair. They also all agree 
in this, That after the Repulse of the Enemy in their three several 
Attacks on the Island, it was discovered that the Enemy in great 
Numbers were passing from the North to the South side of the 
River, at a Ford about a mile above, on which Col. Bradstreet 
immediately marched with 250 men, to meet them. He found 
that the Enemy to the number of about 400 had possessed them- 
selves of a thick Pine Swamp, on which he attacked them in their 



484 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

own way, behind Trees, but rinding that to little purpose, while 
the Enemy remained covered, he prevailed on his Men to rush in 
upon them, which had so good an effect that the Enemy were soon 
dispossessed of the swamp, but still made a running Fight from 
Tree to Tree. In this manner they were pushed backwards for 
near two Miles, when having the River in their Rear, they were 
obliged to cross, which they did in a Manner most terrible to them- 
selves. It was either to drown or be shot: Destruction stared them 
in the Face on all sides, and it soon laid hold of them, for the 
Battoemen having now a fair View of them, took them down fast; 
and here it was that the Enemy sustained their greatest Loss. One 
of the Prisoners taken in this pursuit, informed Colonel Bradslreet r 
that one of our Indians had, during the Engagement, deserted to 
the Enemy, and informed them of our Disposition, on which a 
Party of the Enemy was ordered to cross the River, a little higher 
up, and to come down upon our Flanks or Rear. Col. Bradstreet 
marched up to the Place described by the Prisoner, and fell in 
with a few of them straggling before the Rest; but the whole 
party soon took to their Heels, and with the utmost Precipitation 
and Confusion, repassed the River, some leaving behind them their 
Arms, others their Blankets, and many Indian Implements of War. 
The first attack of the Enemy was made about 3 O'Clock, the 
Action ended about 6 in the Evening. A Scouting Party was 
then sent out on the North side of the River, to see if any of the 
Enemy were remaining, but found that they were gone off, and 
that in the utmost Haste and Confusion, for they had left behind 
them their Packs, Blankets, and Provisions. About half an hour 
after the Action ended, Capt. Patten, with one Hundred Grenadiers 
of the 50 th Reg 1 joined the Battoemen. The former being on 
their March from Onondago to Oswego, about 4 Miles from the 
place of Action, heard the Fire, and made all the Haste they 
could to come up, but they came a little too late. However with 
this Reinforcement it was determined to pursue the Enemy to their 
Camp about 12 Miles off, if they cou'd, by the next Morning, 
have 200 Men more from the Garrison of Oswego, and accordingly 
, an Express was dispatched to Col. Mercer for that Purpose, who 
sent the 200 Men requested; but unluckily a Storm of Rain came 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 485 

on so hard as to render it impossible to keep the Men's Ammuni- 
tion dry. It continued raining till next day, and then it was 
judged too late to attempt the Pursuit. 

A further Account of the Action on the 2>d of July last. 

[From the same, Aug. 2, 1756.] 

You have doubtless before this Time, had the agreeable News 
of the Defeat of the French by the Battoemen on the Onondaga 
River. — Capt. Bradstreet's Conduct was much to his honour, and 
will be very advantageous to the English operations in the present 
Campaign. — His success against the Enemy shews us the Wisdom, 
of taking large numbers of Battoemen into the service — But for 
this Expedient, we should have been unable to keep the Passage 
open to Oswego; and unless our Provisions, stores &c. had been 
sent to that Garrison, in large Squadrons of Battoes, all other 
attempts to support it, would have been ineffectual; for notwith- 
standing our Interest in the Six Nations, we have undoubted Ac- 
counts, that 1200 of the Enemy have lain undiscovered in their 
Country, not far from Oswego ever since May last. 

When Capt. Bradstreet left Oswego, he gave strict Orders, that 
the several Divisions of the Battoemen should keep close together. 
But such an irregular Body, could not be easily kept to good 
order, and therefore they were at some Distance from each other, 
when the Enemy attacked them. — Our Success was owing to Capt. 
Bradstreet's taking Possession of the Island, for by this means he 
prevented the Enemy from fording the River, and gave the Battoe- 
men who were fired upon, Time to rally and collect themselves on 
the opposite shore. — When Capt Bradstreet gained the Island, he 
had not above Eight Men with him, and these repulsed about 30 
of the Enemy. Upon this he was joined by six more Battoemen, 
and was attacked a second Time by a Party of 40 French, whom 
he also compelled to give Way. — Capt. Bradstreet was after that, 
reinforced by six others, and a Party of above 70 of the Enemy 
then fell upon him, and by pouring in cross Fires, wounded 12 of 
his Men; but after some Time, the French were forced to retire a 
third Time. 



4S6 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

A large Body of about 400, being then observed to advance 
npon the North Side of the River, about a Mile higher, Capt. 
Bradstreet imagined, that they intended to ford the River, and 
surround him. On this he quitted the Island, and with 250 Men, 
Marched up the South side of the River, to prevent it, but the 
.Enemy had not only forded it, but taken Possession of a Pine 
Swamp on that Side, before he came up. Doctor Kirkland, who 
was returning from Oswego, in Company with Capt. Bradstreets 
command, had now gatheied togelhei 200 Battoemen, with Design 
to reinforce him; but Capt. Bradstreet sent him Orders to keep 
his Post, to cover the Battoes which were behind; and directed 
that Capt. Butler should Command the farthest Division of Battoes 
down the River, and post them in the most proper Place upon the 
same Duty. 

When Capt. Bradstreet came to the Swamp, an Engagement 
began in the Indian Manner, which lasted above an Hour; Capt. 
Bradstreet then animating his Men, entered the swamp, and forced 
the Enemy out of it into the River, where many of them were 
slain. . . . Another Party was at that Time, attempting to 
ford the River when Capt. Bradstreet came up with them, and 
after he fell in with them, the whole Body was routed. 

Not long after this last Action, a Company of Grenadiers 
belonging to General Shirley's Regiment, which was upon the 
March from Onondaga to Oswego, joined our Battoemen ; and 
the next Morning 200 Men came to them from the Garrison. 
Capt. Bradstreet now pioposed, to have gone in quest of the main 
Body of the French, but was prevented by excessive Rains. 

We lost in these Actions about 20 Men, and 24 were wounded. 
What the loss of the Enemy was is uncertain. — All conjecture 
that above 100 were killed. — This we know, that above 80 Fire- 
locks were brought to Schenectady: Seventy-four Men more were 
found by a Party, that afterwards went out from Oswego to 
patrole the Woods ; and many doubtless were lost in the River. 
The Enemy lied in the utmost Disorder ; for some Traders were 
passing by the Place of Action a few Days after, were hailed 
from the Shore by 20 Frenchmen, who being without Provisions 
and unable to find their Ca op, were stroling about the Woods, 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 487 

upon the Banks of the River in gre -t Distress, and begged to be 
taken up and carried to Oswego. — The Traders being in Number 
but about Half a Dozen, were fearful of taking more than one of 
them in, and him they delivered to the Garrison. 

This Repulse will doubtless check the Incursions of the French, 
shake their Indian Interest, strengthen our own, and secure our 
future Convoys in their Passage to Oswego. — Capt. Bradstreet's 
Gallantry and Conduct are justly Commended. — The former, in 
his Defence of the Island, and the attack at the Swamp; and the 
latter in his prudent Di-position of the Remainder of the Battoe- 
men, for securing his Rear, and preventing the Enemy from 
Surrounding his whole Party. — Nor did he receive any Help from 
our Indians. — The whole Number he had with him, was only 
Twelve. — Nine of these (such is the State of our Interest with 
them!) could not be brought to engage. — One went immediately 
over to the French, and informed them of our Numbers & Dispo- 
sition. An Oneida Indian fought bravely thro' the whole Dispute 
but another Indian escaped to the Cnondaga Cattle, and spread a 
Report that Capt. Bradstreet was killed, & all his Battoemen 
defeated. — I hope we shall in the ensuing Campaign, fully avenge 
the Loss we sustained on the Banks of Monaungahela. 



DESCRIPTION OF OSWEGO— 1756. 

[Paris Doc. XII.] 

Fort Ontario is situate at the ri^ht* of the River in the middle 
of a very high plateau. It consists of a square of 30 toises [180 
feet] a side, the faces of which, broken in the centre, are flanked 
by a redan placed at the point of the break. It is constructed 
of pickets 18 inches in diameter, smooth on both sides, very welji 
joined the one to the other and rising 8@ 9 feet from the ground. 
The ditch that encircles the fort, is 18 feet wide by 8 deep. The 
excavated earth had been thrown up en glacis on the counterscarp 
with a very steep slope over the berm [covered way]. Loop 

1 That is, the East Bank 



488 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

holes and embrasures are formed in the pickets on a level with 
the earth thrown up on the berm and a scaffolding of carpenter' 
work extends all around so as to fire from above. It has eight 
guns and 4 mortars with double grenades. 

The old Fort Chouaguen, situate on the left [or west] bank of the 
River, consists of a house with galleries (machecoulis) with loop- 
holes on the ground floor and principal story, the walls of which 
are three feet thick and encompassed at a distance of three toisss 
[18 feet,] by another wall 4 feet thick and 10 high, loopholed and 
flanked by two large square towers. It has likewise a trench 
encircling, on the land side, the Fort where the enemy had placed 
18 pieces of cannon and 15 mortars and howitzers, 

Fort George is situate 300 toises beyond that of Choauguen on 
a hdl that commanded it. It is of pickets and badly enough 
entrenched with earth on two sides. 



JOURNAL OF THE SIEGE OF CHOUAGUEN, 

COMMENCED THE 11 th AUGUST 1756, AND CONCLUDED THE 14 th AT 
NIGHT ; BY THE MARQUIS OF MONTCALM. 

[Paris Doc. XII.] 

On the arrival of the French Troops in Canada in the month of 
May, every disposition having been made for the Campaign, the 
Marquis of Vandreuil Governor General of New France detached 
a body of Colonial Troops and Militia towards the St. John River 
to harass the English and receive the remains of the Acadians 
driven from their Settlements, of whom those who had not been 
transplanted to the more distant English Colonies were wandering 
in the woods. Another detachment of observation of about 500 
men was in the direction of Fort Lydius. The Queen's batallion 
and that of Languedoc were encamped in front of Fort Carillon. 
Beam was destined for Niagara ; Guyenne for Frontcnac, and 
Sieur de Villiers, Captain of a Colonial Troop, hung on the enemy 
and watched his movements towards the river Chouagucn, with 



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490 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

bank of the River, Forts George and Chouaguen on the left bank, 
as well as a species of Crown work, in earth, serving as an 
intrenched Camp, having also a good port and a well sheltered 
harbour. But this siege so important to the Colony did not seem 
feasible this Campaign, the season being already far advanced, 
the preparation which this expedition required being very great, 
the distance considerable and transportation not being accomplished 
except with difficulties and endless delays across a country having 
no other roads but rivers, filled with falls and rapids, and lakes 
rendered frequently impassable to batteaux in consequence of the 
violence of the waves. 

Sieur Bigot, Intendant of Canada, arrived at this conjuncture 
at Montreal; took upon himself the collection of munitions of war 
of all sorts, and of provisions — the despatch of convoys and their 
uninterrupted supply. The diversion town ids Chouaguen was 
then determined on with the design to besiege it, if the condition 
of that place, or the carelessness of the enemy permitted. 

Sieur de Rigaud de Vaudreuil, Governor of Three Fivers was, 
accordingly sent with a fresh body of Colonial troops and Indians 
to assume command of Sieur de Villiers' Camp, established at 
Niaoure* bay about 15 leagues from Chouaguen ; Sieur de Bourla- 
maque received orders to commence at Fort Frontenac whatever 
preparations he may deem necessary ; Sieur Decombles, Engineer, 
to proceed with a detachment of Canadians and Savages to recon- 
noitre Chouaguen; and to conceal the project from the enemy, the 
Marquis de Montcalm departed 27 th June with Chevalier de Levis 
for Fort Carillon. The defensive positions to be adopted in this 
quarter ; the fortifications erecting at Carillon; the movements of 
the enemy at Fort Lydius and Albany; all these reasons justified 
the Marquis of Montcalm's presence at Lake St Sacrement. This 
General remained there only long enough to make the necessary 
arrangements and put the English on the wrong scent. He placed 
the defence of that frontier in the hands of Chevalier de Levis 
with a corps of 3000 men ; returned on 15 th July to Montreal 
where he arrived on the 19 th ; received there his last Instructions 
and set out again on the 21 st and arrived at Frontenac on the 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 491 

29 th . Beam's batallioa 1 had already received orders to repair 
thither from Niagara, and Sieur Mercier Commander of Artillery 
had arrived there two days before. 

Having made those preparations inseparable from a new 
expedition in this country, which consequently presents difficul- 
ties unknown in Europe, and provided every thing necessaiy to 
.secure a retreat in case superior forces rendered this inevitable, 
orders were given to two barks — one of 12, and the other of 16 
guns — to cruize in the latitude of Chouaguen. A corps of Scouts, 
Canadians and Indians, were sent on the road between the latter 
place and Albany, to intercept Runners. ^ 

The Marquis de Montcalm left Frontenac on the 4 th August 
with the first division of the army consisting of De la Sarre's and 
De Guyenne's batallions and four pieces of cannon. 3 He arrived 
on the 6 th at the Bay of Niaoure, which the Marquis de Vaudreuil 
had designated as the rendezvous of all the Troops, and where 
the second division composed of Beam's batallion, of the Militia, 
of 80 batteaux of Artillery and provisions arrived on the 8 th . The 
number of troops destined for the expedition was nearly 3000 men 
— to wit, de la Sarre's, Guyenne's and Beam's batallions amount- 
ing to only 1300 men ; the remainder, soldiers of the Colony, 
Militiamen and Indians. 

Sieur de Rigaud's corps, destined as the vanguard, set out on 
the same day to advance to a cove called, Vanse aux Cabanes 
(Wigwam Cove) 3 within three leagues of Chouaguen. The 
first division having arrived there on the 10 th at two o'clock in 
the morning, the vanguard proceeded four hours afterwards across 
the w T oods to another Cove situated half a league fiom Chouaguen 

1 Supposed to be a part of the celebrated Irish Brigade, then in the French ser- * 
vice, and mentioned in the Deposition of a French Deserter, post p. 504; Beam's 
batallion was between 400 and 500 men. 

2 Another account says — " Orders came for the Regiment of La Sane to pro- 
ceed to the Bay of Niaoure. . . We proceeded on the 29th to encamp at I'lsle 
aux Aillo and arrived at the rendezvous on the 30th. . . . We had orders to 
send back our batteaux to Frontenac for Guyenne's and Beam's Regiment and ihe 
Artillery." 

3 Now, Sandy Creek Bay. « We marched all the night of the 9th and 10th, 
(says another account) when we joined Mr. Rigaud at Wigwam Cove. The army 
bivouacked at the Riviere aux Sables," now, Sandy Creek, Oswego co. 



492 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

to cover the debarcation of the artillery and troops. The first 
division reached the same Cove at midnight. A battery from 
Lake Ontario was forthwith erected there and the troops bivou- 
acked during the night at the head of the batteaux. 

On the ll lh , at break of day the Canadians and Indians advan- 
ced to within a quarter of a league of, and invested Fort Ontario, 
situated, as we have stated, on the right bank of the River Choua- 
guen. Sieur Decombles, sent at 3 o'clock in the morning to 
make arrangements for this siege and the attack, was killed, 
returning from his reconnoissance, by one of our Savages [a Nipis- 
sing] who escorted him and who took him in the dark, for an 
Englishman — a mishap which was rendered of the greatest conse- 
quence to us from the circumstance of carrying on a siege in 
America with one Engineer only that remained. Sieur Desandro- 
nius the surviving Engineer, ran a road through the woods, partly 
through swamps explored the evening before, for the purpose of 
conducting the artillery across. This road, commenced at 11 
o'clock in the morning was finished at night and thoroughly com- 
pleted next morning. The camp was established at the same time, 
the right resting on Lake Ontario covered by the same battery 
that protected our batteaux from attack ; the left, on an impassa- 
ble swamp. 

The precaution of marching only at night and of entering rivers 
when halting by which we were concealed, had till then hid our 
advance from the enemy. It was announced to them only thot 
same day by the Indians who went even to the foot of the fort to 
fire. Three armed barks which sailed at noon from the River 
Chouaguen came cruising in front of the Camp, discharged some 
pieces of artillery, but the fire from our battery forced them to 
sheer off. Since then, they cruised only at a considerable distance. 

On the 12 th at day break Beam's Regiment arrived with the 
batteaux of artillery and provisions. These batteaux were forth- 
with unloaded in presence of the English barks which cruised in 
front of the Camp. The battery on the beach was increased — the 
park of artillery and the depot of provisions established, and Sieur 
Pouchot, Captain in Beam's Regiment, who had successfully 
begun a fortification at Niagara, received orders to act as Engineer 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 493 

during the siege. Arrangements were made to open the trenches 
that very night; Sieur de Bourlamaque superintended them. Six 
piqkets of workmen, fifty men each, were under orders for that 
night ; two companies of grenadiers and three pickets to support 
them. 

Notwithstanding the greatest possible diligence, the work at 
this trench could not be begun until midnight. It was rather a 
parallel of about 100 toises 1 , the front opened at 90 toises from the 
ditch of the fort through ground embarrassed by obstructions and 
stumps of trees. This parallel finished at five o'clock in the 
morning was completed by the day labourers who cut the lines of 
communication and commenced erecting batteries. The enemy's 
fiie which had been very brisk since the break of day ceased 
about eleven o'clock at night, and it was perceived that the 
garrison evacuated Fort Ontario and passed over to that of 
Chouaguen at the opposite side of the river. They abandoned in 
retiring 8 pieces of cannon and four mortars. The fort having 
been immediately occupied by the grenadiers of the trench, the 
workmen were commanded to continue the communication of the 
parallel to the river side where at nightfall was commenced a 
large battery placed so as to batter Fort Chouaguen, the road from 
that fort to Fort George, and take the entrenched camp in the 
rear. Twenty pieces of cannon were conveyed during the night 
in men's arms, a labour which occupied the whole army, with 
the exception of the picquets and the camp guard. 

On the 14 th , at day light, the Marquis of Montcalm orderd 
Sieur de Rigaud to ford the river to the other side with the Cana- 
dians and Indians, to occupy the woods and harrass the commu- 
nication with Fort George where the enemy appeared making 
considerable preparations. 2 At six o'Clock we had nine pieces 
ready to bear, and though the fire of the besieged, up to that time 

1. A toise is a French measure of six feet. 

2. "Sieur Rigaud executed this order forthwith. Though there was considerable 
water in that River and the current was very rapid, he threw himself in and 
crossed over with the Canadians and Indians; some swimming 1 , others in the water 
up to the waist or to the neck and arrived at their destination without the fire of 
the enemy having been able to stop a single Canadian or Savage." — Another 
account. 



494 PAPERS RELATING TO CSWEGO. 

was more brisk than cur's, they hoisted the White Flag at ten 
o'Clock and sent two officers to demand a Capitulation. The 
celerity of our operations in a soil which they considered imprac- 
ticable, the erection of our batteries completed with so much 
rapidity, the idea these works gave them of the number of the 
French troops, the movement of the corps detached from the 
other side of the river, the dread of the savages, the death of 
Colonel Mercer, commandant of Chouaguen who was killed at 
eight o'Clock in the Morning, 1 doubtless determined the besciged 
toa step which we had not dared to expect so soon. 

The Marquis de Montcalm sent Sieur de Bougainville, one of 
his aids de camp as a hostage and to propose articles of Capitu- 
lation which were to the effect that the garrison should render 
themselves prisoners of war and that the French troops should 
forthwith take possession of the Forts. The articles having been 
accepted by the Commandant Sieur Littlealles, commanding Shir- 
ley's Regiment 2 and sent to the Marquis of Montcalm, Sieur de 
la Paur, Aidemajor to Guienne's Regiment (acting Major General) 
was sent to revise them; and Sieur de Bourlamaque named Com- 
mander of Forts George and Chouaguen took possession of these 
with two companies of Grenadiers and the Pickets from the 
trenches. He was entrusted with the destruction of said Forts 
and the removal of the artillery, Munitions of war and the provi- 
sions found there. 

There were, on our side only about thirty men killed or wounded; 
on that of the English about 150, including several soldiers who 
wishing to escape across the woods fell into the hands of the 
Indians. The number of prisoners was nearly 1700 men; to wit 
Shirley's and Pepperel's regiments, arrived from old England and 
who were at the battle of Fontenoy, a detachment of Schuylers 
regiment, Militia of the Country, about 80 officers, among whom 
were two artillery, two engineers and 12 navy officers. We cap 
tured also 7 vessels of war; one of IS guns, one of 14, one of 10, 



V. 



1. This officer was gazetted, 7th Oct. 1754, Lieut. Col. of Sir Wm. Pepperells, 
or the 2nd American, Regt. He had been previously on half pay. 

2. John Littlehales was appointed Major of Shirley's (or the 1st American) Reg't 
also on 7th Oct. 1754. He had been previously on half pay. 



I 



The 

Genera] Shirley Cn //.J.j .//n in////, 

11/11/ i-/ii/i// tirr r'f/n/;>,r>ir /I'l.i// 
n /,'n//t. t/irt i*/ <'*■///// iC < //<■///. 
.Ji/i *ftde i'/' f/n ./i,i.if'/i,47'' '//in 
YoxX.-J/n.) /r/ii',/, i'.i ,;,//,'/ t/n Eilit 



8 outh View of Oswego 



<■//'// ,V i /i/<iif/i //.////./ Fort 
I'firf/ / }/' ■ /i/imn /ri//i 
/tift/irr f/i t/tr OlfotO- 
■i/.i i/i'.itii/// //' r/u f/ie Old 
Fort,/.'; /■in//' r/ Jri/.i 11111/ 



on Lake Ontario 

//ir /l\i// ,., ., „ ,.,.„„, ,,/,,,/ ,.',,,/ f) lV> . /i y^ ,/>„,,;.,._ 
/„■>! '•/ Mr fA', ■!/.:, „ ,„/,,:, //„■ {'/,„„ ttr/ „///„.,'„/,■ - 

„,!<< ,„?,. //,< Onondag-a River r, ri/ . V&rrw, and 

riir <>/■"/■> '"'I ,,,-„ in,//,, „.„ y,/;/ /h/// r/tl /„ /v . 
I tifi' /in /-ia.jfti . ' 



I" 



Explanation . 

'I'll. !?i> , r I 'n, fu/tir/rt 
J !'hr /.it/.r / ri/i/r-f/ . 




PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 495 

one of 8, three mounted with patereros, 200 barges or batteaux, 
7 pieces of bronze, 48 of iron, 14 mortars, 5 howitzers, 47 pate- 
reros. a quantity of bullets, bombs, balls, powder and a considerable 
pile of provisions. 

On the 21 st all having been demolished, the prisoners, artillery 
and supplies being removed, the army re-imbarked and repaired 
in three divisions to the Bay of Niaoure whence the several corps 
proceeded to their respective destinations. The savages having, 
with the Marquis of Montcalm's permission, departed successively 
after the siege. This general had previous to the expedition 
hound the Nations the one to the other by a Wampum belt which 
he had presented them in His Majesty's name according to the 
custom of the Country. 

So much munition of war and provisions found at Chouaguen — 
the fleet w T hich secured the command on Lake Ontario to the 
English — the additional reinforcements they expected from day to 
day — all announced designs on their part against our posts, Fron- 
tcnac and Niagara, the execution of which was calculated on this 
Autumn, and the danger of which the Colony, very fortunately, 
had not to incur. ' 

[For another French account of the taking of Oswego, see 
Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. xxvi. 508. 



ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION 

GRANTED TO THE ENGLISH TROOPS COMMANDED BY JOHN LITTLEHALES, 
COMMANDING SAID TROOPS AND THE FORTS CHOUAGUEN, BY M. LE 
MARQUIS DE MONTCALM, FIELD MAI SHAL OF THE KINGS ARMIES, 
GENERAL OF HIS TROOPS IN NEW FRANCE. 

Article the first. 

tt has been agreed that the English troops shall surrender 
themselves prisoners of War ; that the Officers and soldiers f hall 
be allowed to preserve their effects. 

1. "The Abbp Picquet .... came to Chouaguen to plant a Cross there, 
on which was affixed, In hoc signo viniunt; and along side, a pole with the Kinirs 
arms and this Inscription— Manibus date lilia plenis." — Additional account. 



496 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

That the said Forts shall be given up at two o'Clock in the 
afternoon with generally all the effects, munitions of war, provi- 
sions, Baiks, Rigging and other property in general whatsoever, 
without any injury being done thereto by their troops. 

Jlrticle the second. 

That all their arms shall be deposited in a store at the moment 
one half the troops are embarked to cross the river; that a number 
of French troops are passed over by the return to take possession 
of the Fort and that the remainder of the troops shall retire at 
the same time. 

The Flags and Drums shall likewise be deposited in said Stores 
with the Officers' arms. 

A new Inventory shall be made of the property in the stores 
and of the artillery, powder, bullets, provisions, barks and rigging 
conformably to the returns made to me. 

The Officers shall in passing, each take away their effects with 
them. 

The 14 th at 11 o'Clock in the morning. 

(Signed) John Littleiiales Lt Colonel and Coinmandtint. 

The said articles are granted in His most Christian Majesty's 

name according to the power which I have from M. the Marquis 

de Vaudreuil, his Governour and Lieutenant General in New 

France. 

Signed, Montcalm. 

Return of Effects found in the Fort $ sent to Front enac, the pillage 

not included. 

7 cast cannon of the calibre of 19. 14. & 12 
48 of iron of 9. 6. 5. & 3. 

1 cast mortar, 9 inches 4 lines. 
13 others of Iron of 6 inches & of 3 inches. 
44 patereros. 
23 thousand of powder. 

8 thousand of Lead in balls and shot. 
2950 bullets of divers calibres 

150 Bombs of 9 inches and 300 of six 
1476 grenadoes. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 497 

730 grenadier's muskets. 
340 Grape shot (Raisins.) 
12 pairs of Iron wheels for naval carriages. 

Vessels Captured o?i Lake Ontario. 

I Snow of 18 guns ; 1 brigantine of sixteen ; 1 sloop of ten ; 
one battoe of 10 ; one of eight & two stone guns; 1 skiff mounted 
with 8 patereros & one skiff in the stocks, burnt ; 200 barges & 
batteaux. 

Provisions found in this Fort. 

704 barrels filled with biscuit. 7 barrels of Salt 

1386 barrels of pork & beef 1 garret full of Vegetables 

712 barrels of flour. 1 other piled with flour 

200 sacks Of ditto. 32 live oxen 

II barrels of Rice 15 hogs 

3 boxes of silver & the military chest containing I8,000 lb 
A quantity of liquors and wines 



ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. 

Our artillery thundered on their camp and at the moment we 

were thinking only of our destruction we were about to witness 

the glorious termination of our labours. I had seven men of my 

picquet killed or wounded within an hour and a half and I had 

still the whole day before me when we heard the Rapp el and saw 

the White Flag hoisted on the turret of their embattled house. 

Cries of Vive le Roi informed the French of the fact. The loss 

of their commander ; that of the officer of artillery ; the tears of 

their wives ; the terror of those who saw their husbands exposed 

to the same danger; induced them to surrender. We made 1640 

prisoners, 120 of whom were Women, five Standards, 1 120 fire 

eaters (cannon) and six large Barks. Their Stores were provided 

with every thing to maintain our army during the next Campaign. 

1 The Marquis de Vaudreuil caused lo be deposited in the Churches of Montreal, 
Quebec and Three Rivers, with the usual ceremonies, the four Standards of Shir- 
ley's and Pepperel's regular troops and that of Schuyler's Regiment of Militia.— 
Another Account. 

32 



498 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

The loss of the king of England is estimated at 20,000,000. 
The least superstitious attribute our success to Providence. They 
could, in truth Sir, hold out much longer. We have lost, not- 
withstanding, SO men, and our little army had been swamped if 
that valour so justly attributed to the troops of Old England had 
extended to their Colonies. Our's is now more flourishing than 
ever; trade entirely re-established; lake Ontaiio ours without 
any opposition. We can hardly recover from our astonishment. 
The bulwark (le boulevard) of New England was originally but 
the house of an individual whom the Iroquois had permitted to 
build ; of this the King took possession some years afterwards 
for purposes of Trade. He increased it with all the works which 
we demolished. Their loss, Sir, is incredible. The Canadians 
and Indians have had a very considerable slice of the cake ; the 
latter perpetrated there a multitude of horrors and assassinated 
more than 100 persons included in the capitulation, without our 
being able to prevent them or having the right to remonstrate with 
them. This species of animal I look upon as mad dogs; when 
they are intoxicated they are uncontrolled. 



THE EXAMINATION OF M0NS R BELESTRE 

A FRENCH ENSIGN TAKEN BEFORE THE I10N BLE EDMUND ATKYN ESQ 
HIS MAJESTVS AGENT FOR, AND SUPERINTENDANT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, 
IN THE SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT; IN PRESENCE OF COL WASHING- 
TON AND GEORGE CROGHAN ESQ R DEP Y TO SIR W M JOHNSON. 

[Lond. Doc. XXXIV.] 
He says he is a native of Canada and served Mons' Vaudreuil, 
that he came last from Fort Duquesne with a party of 40 Indians 

and 12 White men, 3 of whom were officers That 

only 100 of the Garrison at Fort Duquesne are quartered within 
the Fort the rest lodging in barracks without. That the train of 
Artillery taken from General Eraddock was sent down after his 
defeat to Niagara, and that it was the same train the French had 
used at the taking of Oswego. ' 

1 The same day the French invested the place with about 5000 men and 32 pieces 
of Cannon, from 12 to 18 pounders besides several large brass mortars and hoyets 
(among which artillery was part of Genl. Braddock's.) — Journal of the Siege of 
Oswego ; Gentleman's Mag. xxvii. 76. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 499 

[Council Min. XXV.] 

At a Council held at Fort George in the City of New 
York on Fry day the 27 th day of April 1756. 

His Excellency communicated to the Council the Intelligence 
he had received from the R l Hon ble the Earl of Loudon, by 
Express, of the Enemy's having laid siege to Oswego, of their 
having taken the Fort on the East side of the River, and that it 
was apprehended they were or would soon be Masters of the other 
works there, with all the stores and Naval Armament. 

Also a Letter from his Lordship of the 21 st inst in which his 
Lordship desires that his Excellency seeing the situation of Things, 
and Knowing so well the Consequences of such a situation would 
send him such aid as he may see necessary and may be in his 
power to do 



EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ALBANY, DATED AUG. 30. 

[N. Y. Mercury.] 

Last night a Letter came to Town from Onide Carrying Place, 
where was come an Indian from Oswego, who informed, that the 
French had carried every Thing from thence and demolished the 
Place ; that they had carried away three of four Officers, the Car- 
penters and Sailors to Frontenac, the Remainder they killed, cut 
off their Heads, and posted them on Stakes along the Lake Side. 

It is said Col. L e scandalously surrendered the Fort, no more 

than 7 Men killed in the whole, among whom was Col. Mercier. 

•Commodore B y also behaved scandalously, not firing one 

Gun from his Vessels on the Enemy. I cannot conceive (if true) 
why this Barbarity was Committed, unless our Men repented their 
Shameful Surrender, or there must have been a Quarrel between 
the French and Indians. 

The accounts received from Albany since our last, concerning 
Oswego, are more favourable, than those that have been inserted 

• MS. Note ift the Mercury. — If an Enemy should stand on the brink of the hill no 
gun pointed could reach him from the Vessels. 



500 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

heretofore ; for we are assured from good Authority, that some 
white People are returned to Albany, who were despatched to 
Oswego, in order to reconnoitre the Woods, and, if possible, to 
get a View of the Place, who report that they lay two Nights 
there, where every thing that could be of service to the French 
was carried away, and the Forts and Houses entirely demolished, 
that no signs of Murder or Massacre was to be seen, and that they 
found only three Graves, which were very handsomely made up, 
and one in particular, which they imagined was Col. Mercer's. 

'Tis also said, That a Negro Fellow, who made his Escape, after 
the Garrison of Oswego was taken, is lying sick at Onida Castle, 
and says, that immediately after Col. Mercer was killed, the Place 
was given up to the French, by Order of Lieutenant Colonel 
Littlehill ; that the Number of the Besiegers were but little 
superior to those of the Besieged ; and that the Enemy had no 
other Cannon, than those they got at Fort Ontario. 

A Letter from Oneida Carrying Plate dated August 18 says — 
That John Gall who belong'd to one of the Vessels on the Lake, 
and made his Escape reports, That on the 11 th instant the Row 
Galley went out on a Cruise, and return'd in 10 Minutes, first 
giving a Signal that he had discovered the Enemy : Upon which 
the two other Sloops with Part of the Regiments on board imme- 
diately went out, and in about a Mile from the Fort discovered 
the Enemy's Camp. The 12 th the Enemy engaged Ontario Fort, 
w r ith Small Arms only, the Fort returning the Fire very smartly 
with their Cannon and Small Arms, all that Day and Night fol- 
lowing. The 13 th a Council of War was held at the old Stone 
Fort, and two Shells and one Ball thrown, which was a Signal 
for the Troops to quit Ontario Fort and join those at the old Fort, 
the opposite side of the River, where Col. Mercer was, which 
they immediately did : That at Night the Enemy hove up a 
Fachine Battery and Entrenchment on the Edge of the Bank, 
opposite the old Fort. The 14 th in the Morning the Enemy began 
their Fire on the old Fort, which was warmly returned till Col. 
Mercer was killed by a Cannon Ball as he was in the Camp encou- 
raging; the Men about 11 o'Clock : That the Fire continued very 

DO * 

hot about an Hour after, when Lieutenant Cook with a Flag of 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 501 

Truce was sent to the Enemy ; and upon their return all the 
Indians came in with him. That Orders were immediately given 
for every Man on board the Vessells to lay down their Arms take 

1 Blanket and 2 Shirts and march Prisoners into the old Fort, 
That Shirley's & Pepperell's Regiments were ordered to march to 
Fort Ontario, to be sent Prisoners to Frontenac (500 Indians 
being to Guard them) in the Vessels which they took from us in 
our Harbour, being 2 Sloops 6 Guns each, besides Swivels, and 

2 Hoies ; 2 Schooners, one of them with Swivels ; and a Brig 
lately built, with 14 Carriage Guns, and the same number of 
Swivels : That Col. Schuyler and his Regiment were earned 
away Prisoners also. That by the best accounts he could collect 
there were but five Men Killed besides Col. Mercer. 



SIR CHARLES HARDY TO THE BOARD. 

[Lond. Doc. XXXIII.] 

Fort George N. York Sep 5th 1756. 
My Lords — I enclose for your Lordshipps information the 
Declaration sent me from Albany of the Soldiers who were origi- 
nally Deserters from the French, & had taken on in Generals 
Shirley & Peperells Regiments this paper did not come to me 
from anypublick authority, as Lord Loudoun could not then have 
time to copy papers. One of the Sailors that belonged to the 
Ontario Capt n Lafory, I have seen he gives this information that 
to the best of his memory on the morning of the 10 th of August a 
small Schooner was sent from Oswego to make discovery, that 
she returned off of the Harbour again in about two hours, inform- 
ing them that they had discovered a large incampment of the 
enemy about three miles to the Eastward of Oswego, upon this 
information Capt ns Lafory & Deane sailed in two sloops to attempt 
cannonading the Camp, before they could reach the shore where 
the enemy lay they were fired upon with Cannon very briskly, 
that four shot struck the Ontario, three of them stuck in her side, 
which they cut out found them to be Balls of twelve pound weight 
with the Kings broad arrow on them, that they did not think it 



502 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

adviseable to make any further attempt, but returned to Oswego, 
& sail'd again the next morning as [and?] observed the encamp- 
ment as before. By this time the enemy had marched Bodys of 
their Forces & attacked Fort Ontario with Musquetry which they 
continued for two days, when the English Garrison abandoned it, 
first spiking their small Cannon, threw their Powder into a well, 
& retired into the old Fort, soon after the enemy dre v up their 
Cannon to Fort Ontario in number S or 9 and cannonaded the old 
Fort, which continued for 24 hours when Lieut Col Littlehales, 
who succeeded to the command upon Lieut Coll Mercers being 
killed sent out an Officer & Drum with a white Flag, soon after 
the surrender took place, & the French possession of the Fort, 
that the Garrison were made prisoners of War & well used, that 
the vessels which were all in Port, was soon after taken possession 
of by the French, during the siege was killed Lieut Coll. Mercer 
Capt" Hind of the Train of Artillery and eight or nine private 
men, & one Engineer wounded, he further says that the Enemy's 
force was reported to be three thousand Regulars & a great num- 
ber of Indians, These two accounts tho' not materially different 
are greatly so from an account sent me from Gen: Willi's Camp. 
An Onandaga Sachem came to them the 25 th in the evening with 
strings of Wampum and declared. That two of their young men 
that had been sent to Oswego returned to their Castle & reported 
that Oswego was not taken till six days before, that the enemy 
had put the whole to the Sword, except 150, sailors carpenters 
& artificers included, That they had demolished the works & 
evacuated the place carrying away the shipping Guns ammunition 
&c, That they had laid the Dead in Banks with their heads in the 
Water, & scattered a great quantity of Provisions about the Place. 
That they told the Indians upon their leaving the place, You see 
we do not want to seize your Lands, only to drive the English 
away whom we are much obliged to for supplying us with Artil- 
lery & Tools which we were in want of to take their Forts, the 
Sachem added that those that gave us the former accounts were 
deserters who went away before the affair was decided, 

These are all the particulars I can furnish your Lord:'P s with, 
with respect to the loss of Oswego. 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 503 

Declaration of a Soldier in Shirletfs Regiment. 

Albany Aug the 21, 1756. Past 8 o clock 

The following account is given by 5 other men who had deserted 
from the French and were in Generals Shirley & Pepperel's Regi- 
ments and escaped with the Declarant. 

Claude Frederick Hutenac of Major Gen 1 Shirley's Reg 1 declares 
that on Monday the 9 th of Aug 1 a Prow Galley went out of the 
harbour of Oswego, & discovered the French Camp about a mile 
from Fort Ontario, the next day two sloops sailed out of the 
Harbour who were fired upon from that Camp & brought in two 
of the Bullets one of them an eighteenth and the other a twelve 
Pounder. That on Wednesday & Thursday the enemy continued 
to fire with Small Arms only from the tops of the Trees & behind 
bushes upon a rising ground which commands Fort Ontario, which 
is no more than stockaded with a ditch of 14 feet wide and 10 
deep but not quite finished. That on Thursday night the enemy 
opened Trenches within Pistol shot of the Fort, & on Friday the 
13 th between one & two in the afternoon, the whole Garrison 
consisting of 300 men of Pepperells commanded by Capt n 
Barford of that Regiment haveing first spiked their Cannon con- 
sisting of two Six Pounders and six four Pounders — abandoned 
their Fort & embarked aboard Whale Boats and got into the 
old Fort Oswego, without suffering any loss, that during the 
time they remained in Fort Ontario, they had only 3 men killed 
& Ensign Ting of Major Gen ,s Pepperells Regiment, wounded, 
that they neither wanted ammunition or Provisions, & that the 
enemy never fired any cannon at this Fort That soon after they 
arrived in the old Fort Oswego, Lieut Coll Mercer marched Pep- 
perell's Regiment with 100 of Shirley's to reinforce Coll Schuyler 
who with his men were posted at a small unfinished redoubt upon 
a rising Ground about 600 yards to the Westward of old Fort 
Oswegoe, this Post had been deserted for some months past, and 
made use of only in keeping Cattle, this detachment was employed 
that afternoon in cutting down the Bushes near that Fort and 
making fascines, That on Saturday morning early the 14 th the 
French opened a Fascine Battery of 5 Pieces of Cannon before 
the Gate of Fort Ontario, & played upon the old Fort Oswego ? 



501 PAPEKS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

across the inouth of the Harbor, that the Garrison on their side 
continued to fire above 4 hours with 12 Guns and 4 Mortar's 
whereof one of the latter burst, that between 8 & 9 o clock that 
morning Coll. Mercer was killed at the Battery upon which tlie 
command devolving upon Lieut Coll. Littlehales, he sent for Coil 
Schuyler & the detachment from the Redoubt who on their march- 
ing to the old Oswego Fort had two men killed upon Coll Schuy- 
ler's arrival a council of War consisting of the Field Oiliceis & 
Captains was called and presently thereafter orders was given to 
cease firing upon which Lieut 1 Montcreif of Slnrleys and an officer 
of Pepperels with a Sergeant & Drum went out of the Works 
with a White Flagg in order to cross over at the mouth of the 
Harbour, upon which this Declarant said to Coll Littlehales that 
if you are to give up the Fort you must suffer me who am a 
deserter from the French to make the Best of my way, because 
they will have no mercy upon me, the Colonel replyed that he 
expected to march out with the Honors of Warr, & consequently 
he the Declarant would be safe, not trusting to this, he with seven 
more who had formerly deserted from the French had leave to 
make their escape, but before they got quite clear they saw the 
French from the opposite side of the Harbour getting into Boats, 
and amongst them some cloathed in Red faced with Green which 
he immagines belongs to the Irish Brigade, that about 20 of the 
Garrison of old Fort Oswego were killed and wounded, and that 
no officer was killed except Lieut. Coll. Mercer, nor any wounded 
but Lieut de la Cour of the Artillery. That the Enemys battery 
was raised so high that their shott plunged in amongst them and 
the only cover they had towards the side of the Lake upon which 
the Enemys Battery chifly pointed, were from Barrels of Pork 
placed by way of parapet, with embrasures through. That one 
Saturday morning the 14 th a Party of the French forded the River 
about Cannon shot from the old Fort who remained in the Woods 
without coming near the works. That there was no sortie made 
from any of the Forts and that all the vessels were in the Port 
when the Place was given up. That from the report of the Sea- 
men who saw. the French Camp they judged them to be about 
4000 regulars, besides Canadians & Indians. That the Garrison 



PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 505 

of Oswego consisted of about 400 of Shirley 300 of Pepperels, 
and 150 of Schuyler's besides the seamen, carpenters & other 
artificers who worked the Guns& did the other dulys in the Works. 
The 4 men of Shirley's Regiment who are all deserters from the 
French declare that there was 8 months pay due to them when the 
enemy appeared, they were then paid up six months. The two 
men of Pepperels who are also deserters from the French declare 
they have received no pay for 9 months past. That last winter 
there was only 140 men fit for duty of both Regiments with 20 
of the independent companys. That their provisions was extremely 
bad and only received half allowance, and that even at that they 
had resolved to quit the place without a supply had speedily 
arrived. 1 



EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM PORTSMOUTH, DATED 
FEB. 13, 1757. 

[From N. Y. Mercury.] 

Inclosed you have a List of Several Carpenters, Sailors and 
other Artificers that were taken with me at Oswego, and are now 
here; some of them were retaken going to France, and others 
were sent here from Canada. Some of them are on board the 
Royal Anne, and some in the Hospital; all in good Health, and 
are to be sent home by the first Opportunity. 

Joseph Gleddon, William Drewry, Henry Cosdrop, Samuel 
Spenser, Thomas Lyneal, Daniel Chadwell, James Dawson, Joshua 
Sprigs, Alexander Ogelby, Philip Peak, William Robinson, Ed- 
ward Clannon, Joseph Petterson, Zebulon Drew, James Wilson, 
John Lum, Samuel Forgison, Samuel Edmunson, David Evans, 
Thomas Meloney, Cornelius Scantling, Rufus Church, Samuel 

1 For another English account of the Surrender of Oswego, see Gentleman's 
Magazine, vol. xxvii, 75. A Writer in the London Monthly Review, voL 
xvii, 174, accuses the Merchants of England of opposing the important settlement 
at Oswego from interested motives as a company of them had engrossed the whole 
trade of supplying the Colony, as was pretended, with goods for the Indian Trade ; 
which goods they sold wholesale to the French instead of retailing them to tho 
English or the Indians. 






506 PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. 

Moot, Neal Walkinson, Thos Hogin, Benj. Bachoon, James Cave- 
nagh, John Wood, Dan. Carpenter, Benj. Summer, Jonas Wright, 
Sam. Miles, Samuel Noe, William Devenport, Thomas Godard, 
Peler Wright, Brier Goddard, John Tarlox, James Wilson, Rich- 
ard Brincroff, Robert Watts, Arthur Donaldson, Joseph January, 
Peter Goodman, William Hunter, William Mullett, Matthew- 
Thompson, Will. Taylor, Jacob Fedrick, Matthew Bayley, Robert 
Hart, David Williams, Daniel Noroway, William Kemp, Severn 
Anderson, James Gibson. 

[From same. Oct. 24 1757.] 
Tn the packet came Passenger also, a seaman named Edward 
Mariner who was taken at Oswego. He, in Company with M r 
John Walters, of this Place, Robert Isburn & son, of Philadel- 
phia; Capt Rusco, Lieutenants Bickers and Prince, with Ensign 
Ogden, of the New Jersey Provincial Forces, and about 299 more, 
sailed from Quebeck the 18 th of July last, in a Cartel, and arrived 

at Plymouth, in 28 days after: He informs us 

that the brave Colonel Peter Schuyler was in good Health, and 
the great Support of many English Prisoners, without whose 
assistance several of them would have been reduced to the greatest 
extremities. Captain [Jasper] Farmer [of the Artillery] Son of 
M r Jasper Farmer, of this City, Merchant, was likewise at Que- 
beck, when our Informant came away, with several others whose 
names he could not recollect ; and as Provisions were very scarce 
when he left that, 'twas said the remainder of the Prisoners were 
to be sent to Old France in the Fall. 

Note. — Further particulars of the operations before Oswego 
may be found in the London Magazine for the years 1756 — 1759. 



